T U R T L E DOVE.
Columba Turtur, Linn.
La Colombe Tourterelie.
A m o n g the feathered harbingers o f spring, whose voice gladdens our woodlands when “ winter is over and
gone, this charming bird has ever been celebrated as a universal favourite. The Turtle Dove, as i f by common
consent, in every age and in every clime, has been considered by the poet as an emblem o f serenity and peace,
to grace and soften his pictures o f rural harmony. No one can listen with indifference to its notes among
the budding foliage o f the trees, blending with the songs o f other birds, and harmonizing with the genial influence
o f reviving Nature.
The Turtle Dove appears among us in A p r il; but, like other birds that arrive about the same period, its
appearance is influenced by the congeniality and mildness o f the season. On arriving, it takes up its abode
in the thickly wooded districts o f our island, more especially the midland and southern counties, commencing
the process o f incubation as soon as the foliage becomes sufficiently dense to afford it shelter, selecting with
indifference any tree, but more frequently the fir and such others as have their stems covered with ivy, and
thus afford a secure resting-place for their rude flat nest. Upon this frame-work, composed o f a few straight
sticks most inartificially crossed, and interwoven with little care or skill, the female deposits two eggs o f the
purest white, which may be seen through the apertures o f the uest, so slightly and so rudely is.it built.
The Turtles pair, as do the Doves in general. The male and female sit by turns, alternately relieving each
other, dividing the task o f incubation and mutually providing for the wants o f their unfledged progeny. The
young the first autumn have only the indication o f white on the neck, and the feathers o f their plumage
emarginated with distinct and lighter brown. They as well as their parents depart, in September and October,
to the opposite shores o f the European Continent, whence they proceed southward to more congenial climes.
The Turtle Dove, however, is abundant over Continental Europe, extending far northward, but is not found, we
believe, within the region o f the arctic circle. Its general habits appear to be migratory; and i f we may
hazard a conjecture, we should consider that the northern and particularly the more woody portions o f the
coast o f Africa form its winter domicile, as we have reason to know is the case with so many o f our summer
visitants. Its food consists o f grain and vegetables, in search o f which it frequents fields o f corn for pease and
other vegetable seeds.
The sexes differ in so trifling a degree, that the description o f one will serve for both. The head and
neck are varied with ash-colour, becoming richer and brighter on the breast; the sides o f the neck are distinguished
by a patch o f black feathers uniformly tipped with white, so arranged as to produce a series o f
alternate lines o f black and white; the back dark brown; the wing-coverts reddish brown, each feather
having a large dark central mark; tips o f the shoulders lead-colour ; quill-feathers brown; the lower part of
the belly and tail-coverts white; tail rounded; the two middle tail-feathers brown; the rest tipped with white;
the external feather on each side having its external edge also white; irides and feet red. Length eleven
inches.
Our Plate represents an adult male.