Mode of Taking.—This is the same as with the two preceding species; snares placed where salt is strewed for deer are sufficient.
Attractive Qualities.—The inhabitants of our forest villages are very fond of having this turtle dove in their stove apartments, less on account of its agreeable qualities than from the persuasion that it cures their colds and rheumatisms. It is certainly true that this bird is generally ill during the illness of its masters[121]. It will, however, live six or eight years in the house.
THE COLLARED TURTLE.
Columba risoria, Linnæus; La Tourterelle à collier, Buffon; Die Lachtaube, Bechstein.
This bird is twelve inches in length; the beak is reddish white at the base, and dusky on the remaining part; the iris is golden yellow; the shanks are red; the upper part of the body is reddish white, the under part is pure white; the back of the neck is adorned with a black crescent, the points of which turn forward, and the lower part is edged with white; the shafts of the quill and tail feathers are dusky.
The female is whiter than the male.
Habitation.—This species is a native of India and China, from which it has been brought to Europe. It is very common among our peasants, who fancy it has the power of curing their colds and rheumatisms[122]. They assign these poor birds some grated place near the stove, sometimes under a bench; if they are allowed to range, their wings must be clipped, to prevent their flying against the windows, and breaking them. They will generally run under the stove, as they are fond of warmth. They may be accustomed to the dovecot, but their showy plumage often occasions them to fall a prey to carnivorous birds. It is also necessary either to warm the dovecot, or remove them to a heated room during the winter.
Food.—They prefer wheat, and this should be their common food; they will also eat millet, linseed, poppy, and rape-seed, and even bread. The peasants give them the siftings of their corn.
Breeding.—A piece of fur, or soft stuff, or still better, a little basket, serves as the foundation for their nests. To this they merely add a little straw, on which they lay two white eggs. They sit on these a fortnight, but rarely hatch more than one, either from the egg being unfruitful, or from the carelessness of the parent birds. It is therefore rare to see them rear six young ones in the year. These resemble the old ones, and the sex is known by the absence or presence of the reddish colour.