THE PIGEON. 205

This bird is found throughout Africa as far south as the
Cape, migrating into the south of Europe and Asia during
the summer. Its length is about ten inches, its form light
and delicate; the wings and tail long, the latter rounded
at the end; the feathers on the upper part of the body are
of a grey colour with a rosy tinge; the wing-coverts cream-
colour; the head bluish-grey; the cheeks, neck, and breast,
also grey, with a purplish shade; the tail ash-colour; and
the neck adorned with a half-collar of black. Sometimes
the plumage is entirely white.

The common turtle (Columba Turtur), likewise found in
Asia, but migrating much further to the north than the last
species, is rather larger; the upper parts are brown; the
head and neck grey, the latter ornamented with a small patch
of black on each side; throat, neck, and breast, tinged with
red; the rest of the under parts white. This species visits
England in April or May, when its plaintive and tender
cooing may be heard in the thick woods where it makes
its nest; the female lays only two eggs. C. ¢urtur quits us
again in August; the principal locality in which it is seen
is Kent.

In Isaiah vi. we come to a somewhat obscure allusion
to the multitude of doves sometimes seen, and which may