91 



CAROLINA PIGEON, OR TURTLE DOVE. 

 COLUMBA CAEOLIKEmiS. 

 [Plate XLIIL— Fig. 1.] 



Linn. SysU 286. — Catesb. Car. I, 24.-— Buff. II, 557. PL enl 175. — La Tourterelle de 

 la Caroline^ Brisson, I, 110. — Peale's Museum, No. 5088. — Turton, 479. — Arct. 

 Zool. II, No. 188. 



THIS is a favorite bird with all those who love to wander 

 among our woods in spring, and listen to their varied harmony. 

 They will there hear many a singular and sprightly performer; 

 but none so mournful as this. The hopeless woe of settled sorrow 

 swelling the heart of female innocence itself, could not assume 

 tones more sad, more tender and affecting. Its notes are four; the 

 first is somewhat the highest, and preparatory, seeming to be ut- 

 tered with an inspiration of the breath, as if the afflicted creature 

 were just recovering its voice from the last convulsive sobs of dis- 

 tress ; this is followed by three long, deep and mournful moanings, 

 that no person of sensibility can listen to without sympathy. A 

 pause of a few minutes ensues; and again the solemn voice of sor- 

 row is renewed as before. This is generally heard in the deepest 

 shaded parts of the woods, frequently about noon and towards the 

 evening. 



There is, however, nothing of real distress in all this ; quite 

 the reverse. The bird who utters it wantons by the side of his 

 beloved partner, or invites her by his call to some favorite retired 

 and shady retreat. It is the voice of love, of faithful connubial af- 

 fection, for which the whole family of Doves are so celebrated ; and 

 among them all none more deservingly so than the species now 

 before us. 



