GRO UND DOVE. 2 1 9 



Georgia, the new State of Louisiana, Florida, and the islands 

 of the West Indies. In the latter, it is frequently kept in 

 cages ; is esteemed excellent for the table, and honoured by 

 the French planters with the name of ortolan. They are 

 numerous in the sea islands on the coast of Carolina and 

 Georgia ; fly in flocks or coveys of fifteen or twenty ; seldom 

 visit the woods, preferring open fields and plantations ; are 

 almost constantly on the ground, and, when disturbed, fly to 

 a short distance, and again alight. They have a frequent 

 jetting motion with the tail ; feed on rice, various seeds and 

 berries, particularly those of the toothache tree,* under or near 

 which, in the proper season, they are almost sure to be found. 

 Of their nest or manner of breeding, I am unable at present 

 to give any account. 



These birds seem to be confined to the districts lying south 

 of Virginia. They are plenty on the upper parts of Cape 

 Fear river, and in the interior of Carolina and Georgia ; but 

 I never have met with them either in Maryland, Delaware, or 

 Pennsylvania. They never congregate in such multitudes as 

 the common wild pigeon, or even as the Carolina pigeon 

 or turtle dove ; but, like the partridge, or quail, frequent the 

 open fields in small coveys. They are easily tamed, have a 

 low, tender, cooing note, accompanied with the usual gesticula- 

 tions of their tribe. 



The ground dove is a bird of passage, retiring to the islands, 

 and to the more southerly parts of the continent, on the ap- 

 proach of winter, and returning to its former haunts early in 

 April. It is of a more slender and delicate form, and less 

 able to bear the rigours of cold, than either of the other two 

 species common in the United States, both of which are found 

 in the northern regions of Canada, as well as in the genial 

 climate of Florida. 



The dove, generally speaking, has long been considered as the 



favourite emblem of peace and innocence, probably from the 



respectful manner in which its name is mentioned in various 



parts of Scripture ; its being selected from among all the 



* Xanthoxylum clava Herculis. 



