72 
TURTLE DOVE. 
low and plaintive, and the nest is a structure 
resembling that of the true pigeons. Their food 
is also similar, consisting of various grains and 
seeds, at least during their visit to this country, 
elsewhere it is probable some green food may be 
in part resorted to. We have once or twice re- 
ceived the young birds from the south, but was 
never successful in preserving them alive over the 
ensuing spring ; at first they are easily tamed and 
thrive well, but at the time of migration they 
became restless, and drooped ere the spring again 
advanced. 
Crown blueish-grey ; back of the neck and upper 
part of the back wood-brown, the same colour 
extending to the lower part of the back, rump, 
and upper tail-covers, the feathers on the last 
being grey at the base ; scapulars and covers 
black, passing into grey, deeply edged with ru- 
fous orange ; edges of the shoulders and first lesser 
covers, blueish-grey ; quills, brownish-black ; tail 
is blackish-grey, tipped with white, except the 
centre feathers, which are entirely clove-brown; 
at the separation between the white tips the 
blackish-grey becomes deeper, and sometimes in- 
dicates an indistinct bar ; on looking at the tail 
from below, the dark part appears uniform black, 
and contrasts finely with the pure white extremi- 
ties of the feathers, together with the outer web 
of the exterior feather, which is also white. The 
tore part of the neck, breast, and belly, shading 
gradually into the vent, are dull brownish crimson- 
