A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

George Montagu

Date:: 1866

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$d'Ornith. v. 2, p. 445. Holtz Taube, BecTist. Naturg. Deut, v. 3, p. 957; Meyer, Tass- chenb. Deut. v. 1, p. 287; Frisch. Vog. t. 139. Dei-bosh Dulf, Scpy. Vog. v. 5, t. p. 407. Stock Pigeon, Br. Zool. 2, App. ; Arct. Zool. 2, p. 329, A.; Will. (Angl.), p. 185; Lath. Syn. 4, p. 004, 1; Id. Supp. p. 197. — Head and throat deep bluish grey. Sides of the neck glossed with different shades of green and purple ; the feathers shorter, more distinct, and stiffer than those of the Eock Dove. Lower parts of the neck and breast paler lavender-pm-ple. BeUy, thighs, and under tail-coverts bluish grey, with a slight purplish tinge. Back deep bluish grey. Wing-coverts paler, and some of the greater ones spotted and barred with black, but not forming any defined bar, as in the above-mentioned species. Quills blackish grey; the outer webs, near the base of the feathers, pass- ing into bluish gi'ey. Lower part of the back and tad-coverts bluish grey. Tail bluish grey, with a broad black bar at the end ; and having the outermost feather margined with white. Wings, when closed, reaching to about half the length of the tail. Hides brownish red. Legs and toes blight cochineal-red. The female scai'cely diffei's from the male bird, except that the iridescent refiections upon the neck are not so bright. This bii-d is a constant inhabitant of woods, breeding in the hol- lows of old and pollard trees. The eggs are white (and two in number). They feed upon all gi-ain and seeds, and for their winter supply have recourse to the same diet. They are very abundant in the southern paiis of Europe, but always found to inhabit woods in the interior of each country. In Germany, and in some parts of France, they are regularly migratory. They occur also in Africa, but do not extend to the southward of the tropic.”—Selby, i. 408. This bird has a propensity for building its nest in rabbit- burrows, and on the ground under furze- bushes ; these instances, however, must be considered as abnormal; they occur princi- pally on the heaths of Norfolk and Sufiblk.] Dove, Stock. — This appears to be no other than the preceding species. See Dove, Eock: [also the Editorial note ap- pended thereto.] Dove, Turtle.— [Fan'cH, ii. 309; Hewit- son, Ixvii. 275.] Columba Turtur, Lin. Syst. i. p. 284, 32; Gniel. Syst. ii. p. 786 ; Bail Syn. p. 61, A. 2; Will. p. 134, t. 35 ; Bris. i. p. 92, 7; Ib. 8vo, i. p. 21; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 605,47. Turtur auritus, Baii Syn. p. 184, 26. TourtereUe, Buf. ii. p. 545, t. 25. Tonrterelle de Portugal, Buf. ii. p. 556. Tuitur lusitanicus, Bris. i. p. 98, 9; Jb. 8vo, i. p. 23. Common Turtle, Br. Zool. No. 103, t. 45 ; lb. fol. 88, t. 88 ; Albin. ii. t. 45—1.48; Hayes, Br. Birds, t.U; Will. Angl. p. 183, t. 35 ; Lath. Syn. iv. p. 644, 40, var. A. B. C. D.; Ib. Sup. p. 199; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 7; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 188; Lewin, Br. Birds, iv. t. 130.—This elegant httle species w'eighs rather more than six ounces; length twelve inches. The bill is brown; hides reddish yellow; a bare space beneath and beliind tlie eyes of a purplish red. The top of the head and upper part of the neck behhid cinereous; on each side of the neck is a patch of black featliers, tipxsed Arith Avhite; the back is brown, dashed with ash-colour, lightest on the margin of each feather; scapulars and Aving-coverts black, deeply margined Avith femiginous-brown ; quills dusky brown, Avith light edges; the fore- head and chin duU Avhite; breast pale vhiaceous; belly and under tail-coverts Avhite; the sides above the thighs ash- colour; upper coverts of the tail dusky, edged Avith browm, and dashed with ash- colour; the tail is black, tipped Avith white, except the two middle feathers, which are Avholly of a dusky browm; the outer feather is much shorter than the rest, and white on the exterior Aveb ; legs purplish red. The female, in general, is not quite so bright in colour, and is rather less than the male. The Turtle visits the southern parts of England in the spring, and remigrates the beginning of Septem- ber. It chiefly inhabits thick woods, where it makes a nest in a tree, composed of sticks. The eggs are tw'o in number, and Avhite. These birds seem to be more plentiful in Kent than in any other county. Dr. Latham observes they are seen in that district to frequent the pea-fields in flocks of tAventy or more as soon as the peas begin to ripen. We have also seen small flocks in the month of Aug;ust on Eomney Mai-sh, w'hich were said to visit annually the same spot about that season. It is found, though rai’ely, as far AvestAvard as DeA'onshire ; but we believe not far north- ward. This species appears to be subject to some variety. In the ‘ General Synopsis’ mention is made of four or five; if so, it is found in China, Manilla, Portugal, Java, and other parts. But some of these ai-e given as distinct species by other authors. In the Introduction to this W'ork Ave have noticed the singular glands situated under the craw of this bird, secreting a lacteal fluid ; probably common to aU this genus4(f The young of this species do not throw out the black feathers on the neck the first j'ear; and the bare space about the eyes is of a gray colom\ Dove, Turtle, Spottednecked. — This ap-$