BaiTISH BIRDS. 
273 
white ; the legs are red.~One of thefe birds, which 
was fent us by the Rev. Henry Ridley, was ftiot 
out of a flock at Preftwick-Carr, in Northumber- 
land, in the month of September, 1794 : It agreed 
in every refpe£t with the common Turtle, except- 
ing the mark on each fider of the neck, which was 
wholly wanting. We fuppofe it to have been a 
young bird. The note of the Turtle Dove is An- 
gularly tender and plaintive : In addreffing his 
mate the male makes ufe of a variety of winning 
attitudes, cooing at the fame time in the moll gen- 
tle and foothing accents ; on this account the Tur- 
tle Dove has been reprefented, in all ages, as the 
raoft perfect emblem of connubial attachment and 
conftancy. The Turtle arrives late in the fpring, 
and departs about the latter end of Auguff : It fre- 
quents the thickell and molt flieltered parts of the 
woods, where it builds its neft on the highefl trees : 
The female lays two eggs, and has only one brood 
in this country, but in warmer climates it is fup- 
pofed to breed feveral times in the year. Turtles 
are pretty common in Kent, where they are fome- 
times feen in flocks of twenty or more, frequent- 
ing the pea fields, and are faid to do much damage. 
Their flay with us feldom exceeds more than four 
or five months, during which time they pair, build 
their nefts, breed and rear their young, which are 
ftrong enough to join them in their retreat. 
T 
