FAMILY XY. 
COLUMBINI ; Illiger. 
GENUS XXXVI. — COL UMBA, Linnjsus. 
SUBGENUS I. COLUMBA, STEPHENS. 
187 . COLUMBA CAROLINENSIS, WILSON. 
CAROLINA PIGEON, OR TURTLE DOVE. 
WILSON, PLATE XLIII. FIG. I EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
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 preparatory, 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 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, 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. 
