The Turtle Dove. 



A27 



The hen lays two eggs, oval in form, and white in colour, and 

 incubates seventeen days. She usually has two broods in the 

 season, but sometimes only one — much depending on the 

 weather and other circumstances. In an aviary the Turtle 

 Dove breeds with much freedom. 



Methods of Capture. — The same methods as recommended 

 for the capture of the Bing-dove should be adopted. 



Food and Treatment. — This bird feeds on all sorts of 

 grain and several varieties of seeds. It is very partial to 

 peas, tares, and vetches, and feeds largely on a weed common 

 to cornfields, named corn spurry {Spergula arvensis.) It eats 

 beech mast, acorns, alder seeds, fir cones, and bilberries. In 

 confinement it should be fed on wheat, tares, vetches, linseed, 

 and bread. Oats are objectionable, and do not appear to agree 

 with it. The Turtle Dove is exceedingly fond of ^' salt cat," 

 which is given to fancy pigeons. Small gravel and old crushed 

 lime is necessary to its well-being, and ought not to be withheld. 

 Cleanliness is likewise indispensable. The aviary should be 

 cleaned out once a week. 



Bearing the Young. — The most simple and effective method 

 of rearing young Turtle Doves is to obtain a pair of eggs, and 

 place them under domestic pigeons, who will hatch them and 

 bring up the young. To feed these birds by hand is a tedious 

 process, as they require much attention, in addition to being fed 

 every hour. A pair of young birds, five or six weeks old, and 

 able to look after themselves, may be purchased for a small sum 

 from any breeder of Turtle Doves; therefore, where such can be 

 procured, it is preferable to obtaining the eggs of wild birds and 

 rearing them under pigeons. The young birds are grey on the 

 upper parts of their bodies, and the wings are spotted with 

 blackish blue ; the breast is a dull brownish red. When they 

 moult they assume the plumage of adult birds. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — The female is 

 neither so smart nor so sprightly looking as the male, and is 

 paler in colour on the breast ; the wings are dappled with russet 

 brown, the neck markings are less distinct, and not so thickly 

 spotted, and the sheen on the plumage is less brilliant ; but the 

 distinction between the sexes is not particularly conspicuous. 



Song. — The Turtle Dove has but one note, a sort of humming 

 murmur, loud and deep, but not at all unpleasant, and which it 

 continues to utter for a lengthened period — " tur-r-r tur-r-r." 



