nostrils. Tarsi rather shorter than the middle *oe ; inner toe longer than the
outer. Tail, of twelve feathers, rather long and considerably rounded or
graduated. Wings rather long and pointed, the first quill a little shorter than
the second, which is the longest.
The Turtle Dove is only a summer-visitant to the British
Islands, arriving in the southern districts about the end of
April or beginning of May, according to the nature of the
season. Owing to the great increase of conditions suitable to
their habits, these birds are both more numerous and far
more widely distributed than in former years. They frequent
woods, fir plantations, and high thick hedges dividing arable
land, and in .such situations, they make a flat negt -of a few
twigs, frequently so slight as to seem incapable df, retaining
the eggs. Its elevation varies considerably ’ sometimes it is not
more than four feet from the ground ; the average distance is
about twelve ; audit has-been found at least forty feet up, on
the top of a pine in a shrubbery. The. eggs, .deposited from
the middle of May onwards, are, as usual, twoun-number,. of
a glossy creamy white, rather pointed a t one end, and measure
about 1*2 by -9 in. The parent birds take turns in the task
of incubation, which-lasts a fortnight, and, sometimes at
least, two broods are reared reason., Mr., Cecil Smith
having shota bird onthe lstSeptember which could only
have just': left the nest. “ They'are partial^,# grain, pulse',
and seeds of various sorts,'and, like other members?of the
family, they drink regularly/-? Their flight*;# rapid and,
amongst trees, remarkably tortuous. The note%is a low
plaintive cjy>, uttered, more especially by the male, and the
pleasure experienced by the lover of nature on-bearing this
harbinger of returning summer is second only to that caused
.by the earlier note of the <|u|koo. Being somewhat Auseep-
tible to- cold, the majority ofj.the Turtle Doves take their
departure for southern climes in September; .but in sheltered
situations, and especially ip southern counties, sona'e remain
, considerably later, and an example has even been 'obtained -as
late as 18th November. The Report of the CommitfeA'of
the British Association on the Migration of Birds in 1880,
shews- that fifteen struck ‘ the'Casquets lighthou^e^between
10 p.m. and 3 a.m. on September 7th^8th. In the. autumn,
young and old birds may be found in small flocks upon the
stubbles and among the root-crops, and are at-that time:
decidedly beneficial to the agriculturist by devouring the
seeds of numerous weeds.
In Cornwall it appears to be a somewhat irregular visitant,
nor is it very common in Devon, but in the:other, southern
counties, and up to Lincoln,it maybe described as generally
distributed, and breeding where the hatureof.thé country'is-
suitable to it. Shropshire,-especially “between. Shrewsbury '
and Ludlow, seems to be-a favourite district; and Mr. Eyton
says that it is known there by thé name ofrthe WrekinrDove;;
In western Wales it is rare, but if-'occurs, in Lancashire,:
Westmoreland, and. Cumberland. As a: rule, however, to.
the north of the line of-Sheffield-it can only.be“considered as
a straggler outmigration; butdf'has recently been,known.to
breed in- Durham, although not as yet- ih.Northunaberland..
The last remark applies to Scotland, althoughit has occurred:
in many counties; especially in -thosek©róthe western side of
the kingdom : on migration dbalsö strays.'lo^the Hebrides, io?
the Orkneys, and to the Shétlands* I-h some, of-'thè wooded,
parts of Ireland it is generally distributed, but in. the .western:
districts it was: formerly unknown, and .notwithstanding the’
increase: of larch and other, plantations, Mr—R. Warren, has-
only observed three specimens in. MayeDand. Sligo within, the-
last twenty years.
A straggler to the Faeroes, it'occurs throughout <■ a ghsat
part of Scandinavia, and even at sueh a-n elevatibn^ as
Quickjok', although somewhat rare and local in Denmark:*
Throughout Central and Southern. Europe -it is found from:
spring to autumn, being especially abundant in the south at
the epochs of migration ,idh:South Russia it occurs:, in large5
flocks; it abounds in Asia Minor,- Bafestfee and:- Rersia,
chiefly on passage; and-was obtaineddby Dr. Hendersonc in
Yarkand.' Dr Turkestan, Southwestern:: Siberia- ahd India,
it is represented by T.'ferVago, Eversmann; in which "thee
tips of the feathers’ oh the side;of the?: n.eckd are; slate-grey
and not White; and eastwards, again^the*'- latter kpeeies: is*