PLATE CXLIX. 



This, in addition to otlier circumftances, muft tend materially, in om 

 opinion, to confirm its identity as a diflin6l fpecies. We have lefs 

 diflruft on this fubjeQ than in its being aborigine in this country, a 

 point apparently acceded to, with great implicitnefs, by other writers 

 on Britifli Ornithology that have preceded us. 



To whatever caufe the appearance of this bird in a wild ftate in 

 Britain is to be attributed, does not reft with us to determine. Dr, 

 Latham, in the works fo fully quoted in the preceding obfervations, 

 informs us, that many birds of this fort have been obferved in this 

 country : we befides learn, that it was, in particular, not unfrequent 

 in Buckinghamfhire ; and hence, among colledors, it was as dif- 

 tindly known by the local appellation of the Buckinghamfhire, as 

 the Spotted Necked Turtle. If it be really a native of Europe, the 

 filcnce of continental authors may truly excite furprife ; it is obvious 

 from the above remarks, that the continental authors derive their in- 

 formation from the naturalifts of this country. It is far more con- 

 genial with our ideas to believe, that the bird as an European is 

 peculiar to Britain, or rather that it is an extra European fpecies^ 

 introduced by fome fortuitous circumllance into the vicinity of Buck^ 

 inghamfhire, and which having become naturalized in that part, has 

 gradually difFufed itfelf over the neighbouring counties ; the latter i^ 

 very probable. 



At the firft glance we might eafily conceive that this bird partook, 

 in a remote degree at leafi;, of fome peculiarities of the common 

 Stock or Wood Pigeon, or that it formed an intermediate link 

 between that bird and the common Turtle. It differs from the Turtle 

 in being rather larger ; the wings are comparatively longer, and this 



difference 



