TURTLE DOVE. 261 
breast cinereous brown ; upper part of the neck inclining to ash ; the spnt 
of changeable gold green and carmine much less, and not so brilliant , 
tail-coverts brownish slate ; naked orbits slate colored ; in all other 
respects like the male in color, but less vivid, and more tinged with 
brown; the eye not so brilliant an orange. In both, the tail has only 
twelve feathers. 
Species II. COLVMBA CAROLINENSIS. 
CAROLINA PIGEON, or TURTLE DOVE. 
[Plate XLIII. Fig. 1.] 
Linn. Syst. 286.— Catesb. Car. 1, 24.— Buff, ii., 557. PI. Enl. Wb.—La Tourfe- 
relle de la Caroline, Brisson, i., 110. — Turton, 479. — Arct. Zool. n., 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 uttered with an inspiration of the breath, 
as if the afflicted creature were just recovering its voice from the last 
convulsive sobs of distress ; 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 sorrow 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 affection, for which 
the whole family of Doves are so celebrated ; and among them all none 
more deservingly so than the species now before us. 
The Turtle Dove is a general inhabitant, in summer, of the United 
States, from Canada to Florida, and from the sea-coast to the Missis- 
sippi, and far to the westward. They are, however, partially migratory 
in the Northern and Middle States ; and collect together in North and 
* Columba Carolinensis, Lath. Ind. Orn., p. 613, No. 71. C. Canadensis? Id. ib. 
No. 72. 
