SPECIES 2. COLUMBJl CJiROLINENSIS. 
CAROLINA PIGEON, OR TURTLE DOVE. 
[Plate XLIIL— Fig. 1.] 
liiNN. Sijst. 286. — Catesb. Car. 1, 24. — Buff. ii. 557. PI. Enl. 
\75. — La Tourterelledela Caroline, Bkisson,i, ] 10. — Turton, 
479. — Jlrct. Zool. ii, JVb. 188 .^*^ — Peale’s Museum, JVo. 508S. 
This is a favourite 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 sor- 
row, swelling the heart of female innocence itself, could not as- 
sume tones more sad, more tender and affecting. Its notes are 
four; the first is somewhat the highest, and preparatory, seem- 
ing to be uttered with an inspiration of the breath, as if the af- 
flicted creature were just recovering its voice from the last con- 
vulsive 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, fre- 
quently 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 favourite re- 
tired and shady retreat. It is the voice of love, of faithful con- 
nubial 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. 
* Columla CarnJinensis, LkTH. Ind. Orn. p. dlS, J^o.tl. C. Canadensis? Id. 
ib. JVb. 72. , 
