CHAPTER LXXIX. 



THE Turtle Dove. 



Columha Turtur, Lin. ; La Toiirterelle, Buf. 



Description and Charactee. — The Turtle Dove, or Eing- 

 necked Turtle, as it is frequently naraed, is a handsome and 

 interesting member of the Turtur family, graceful, compact, 

 and slender, and the smallest of the British varieties. Though 

 this bird has been praised by poets, and other writers, all over 

 the world, for its docile and gentle nature, its affability, 

 tenderness, affection, and constancy, it is, nevertheless, neither 

 so peaceful nor yet so faithful as represented, although, when 

 once an attachment has been formed between a male and 

 female of this variety it is rarely severed excepting by death ; 

 when, however, such an occurrence does take place, the male 

 bird almost invariably proves the delinquent. In an aviary 

 where several are kept together, and a pair are separated 

 through any cause, the remaining bird rarely frets, but 

 proceeds to win some bachelor or spinster, according to the 

 sex that is deprived of its partner. Flirtations and quarrels 

 among them are not uncommon. 



The Turtle Dove measures in length from llin. to 12in., 

 though occasionally specimens are found that do not exceed lOin. 

 The bill is slender, and of a pale brown colour, shaded with 

 blue. The irides are reddish yellow, and a naked space or 

 rim that surrounds each eye is of a reddish flesh colour. 

 The top of the head and nape of the neck are bluish ashen 

 grey, tinged with pale red ; the forehead is much paler, being 

 deeply imbued with white. At each side of the neck is a 



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