186 
CAROLINA PIGEON. 
CAROLINA PIGEON, OR TURTLE DOVE. _ COLUMBA 
CAROLINENSIS. — Plate XLIII. Fig. L 
Linn. Syst. 286. — Catesb. Car. i. 24 Buff. ii. 557, PI. enl. 175. — La tourterelle 
de la Caroline, Brisson, i. 110. — Peale's Museum , No. 5088.- — Turton, 479. — 
Arct. Zool. ii. No. 188. 
ECTOPISTES CAROLINENSIS Swainson. 
Genus Ectopistes, Swain. N. Groups. Zool. Journ. No. xi. p. 362. — Columba 
Carolinensis, Bonap. Synop. p. 119. — The Carolina Turtle-Dove, Aud. Orn. 
Biog. i. 91. pi. 17, male and female. 
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 wo 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 prepa- 
ratory, 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 meanings, that no person of sensi- 
bility 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 favourite 
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. 
