TURTLE DOVE 
237 
its relatives, it only visits us for the breeding season, 
and is not present in any considerable numbers until 
after the beginning of May. It is common in 
many districts of the south and east of England, 
and may be seen feeding singly or in small flocks 
on the arable fields throughout the summer. In 
the extreme west and the north it becomes scarce 
or rare. On fine days in May and June the coo 
of the Turtle Dove is one of the most character- 
istic voices of the green hazel-copses, dense thorn- 
brakes, and high woodland hedges which it haunts ; 
it is a double pulsing note, a little more rapid in 
delivery than that of the Wood Pigeon, but softer 
and more unobtrusive in tone. The Turtle Dove 
is scarcely more than half the size of the Wood 
Pigeon, and can easily be identified in flight by the 
white band at the end of its fan-shaped tail. 
There is a great deal more brown, and less grey, on 
the upper parts than in the rest of the family, the 
back and the greater part of the wings being a 
warm mottled russet. The neck-patches are 
mottled black and white. The food chiefly con- 
sists of grain and various kinds of seeds, including 
those of corn-field weeds. The nest is built late in 
May or in June ; it is a flattish and flimsy plat- 
form of sticks, lightly covered with roots ; the eggs 
can often be seen from below through the inter- 
stices of the materials. It is generally built in a 
