204 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

places in the Bible, are a subdivision of the family ; the
species of the true turtle have the tails rounded at the ex-
tremity, and the plumage more simple than the pigeon ; all
the birds coming under the denomination of turtles are
more delicate-looking, and their bills more slender; while,
with the exception above named, the tail is longer and more
wedge-shaped than that of the pigeon, in some species con-
siderably so. The collared turtle is supposed to be the bird
alluded to in Solomon’s Song, and many particulars may be
gleaned respecting it by an attentive perusal: that it was a
migratory bird and a visitant only to very warm climates,
may be gathered by the stanza, ‘Rise up, my love, my
fair one, and come away ; for lo, the winter is past, the rain
is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the
time of singing is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard
in our land.” Also in Jeremiah viii. is another proof of
their migratory habits: “Yea, the stork in the heaven
knoweth her appointed times ; and the turtle, and the crane,
and the swallow, observe the time of their coming.” Its
voice is also frequently alluded to, as one of the joyful
signs of the approach of summer; and that of the collared
tartle is of a joyous nature, much resembling a short sub-
dued laugh. ,