38 
THE CAROLINA TURTLE-DOVE. 
which it prefers resorting to those fields from which the grain has been cut 
and removed. It is a hardy bird, and stands the severest winters of our 
Middle States, where some remain the whole year. 
The flesh of these birds is remarkably fine, when they are obtained young 
and in the proper season. Such birds become extremely fat, are tender and 
juicy, and in flavour equal in the estimation of some of my friends, as well 
as in my own, to that of the Snipe or even the Woodcock ; but as taste in 
such matters depends much on circumstances, and perhaps on the whim of 
individuals, I would advise you, reader, to try for yourself. These birds 
require good shooting to bring them down, when on wing, for they fly with 
great swiftness, and not always in a direct manner. It is seldom that more 
than one can be killed at a shot when they are flying, and rarely more than 
two or three when on the ground, on account of their natural propensity to 
keep apart. 
In winter, they approach tl;e farm-houses, feed among the Poultry, 
Sparrows, Graldes, and many other birds, and appear very gentle ; but no 
sooner are they frequently disturbed or shot at, than they become extremely 
shy. When raised from the nest, they are easily tamed. I have even 
known some instances of their breeding in confinement. When caught in 
traps and cooped, they feed freely, and soon become fat, when they are 
excellent for the table. 
When shot, or taken alive in the hand, this and our other species of 
Pigeon, lose the feathers on the slightest touch, a circumstance peculiar to 
the genus, and to certain gallinaceous birds. 
This species does not extend very far eastward or northward. It is 
exceedingly rare in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and none were seen 
by my party in Newfoundland or Labrador. Dr. Richardson makes no 
mention of it as having been observed in the Pur Countries. Yet it was met 
with on the shores of the Columbia river by Mr. Townsend, who informs 
me, that although Ectopistes migratoria is found on the Rocky Mountains, 
E. carolinensis and Columba fasciata are the only species which he 
observed on the Columbia. On the other hand, I found the present species 
abundant in the Texas, where it was breeding on the ground, as well as on 
low bushes, and feeding on blackberries late in the month of April. 
The Carolina Dove breeds in aviaries, even although caught when old, 
raising several broods in the season, insomuch that my friends Dr. Bachman 
and Dr. Samuel Wilson, of Charleston, have had to kill the young for the 
table. The former intimates to me that a male was put into a cage with a 
female European Turtle-Dove, on which they paired, formed a nest, and 
laid eggs, but the cage having accidentally fallen, the eggs, which now 
contained young, were broken, and the Carolina Dove escaped. The same 
