This is a Turtle of much elegance. Its general aspect resembles that of
the Pea-dove, but its colour is less warm, and its figure less plump.
The singular white band on the wing is at any distance a sufficient
distinctive mark. It is the only gregarious Dove we have; for the small
companies of the Ground Dove can hardly entitle it to be so called: the
Whitewing, however, associates in flocks of twenty or thirty, which,
when removing, fly in a body, as do tame Pigeons. In the early months
of the year, when the physic-nut (_Jatropha curcas_) is ripening, and
oranges come in, the Whitewing becomes plentiful in open pastures, and
the low woods in the neighbourhood of habitations; the seeds of these
fruits, and the castor-oil nut, forming the principal part of their
food. At this time they are very easily shot, as they walk about on
the ground. They are also taken very readily in springes, and in traps
called _calambans_, baited with orange seeds. Sometimes when the foot
is caught in the springe, the bird will remain very quietly; at others
it struggles much, so as almost to be deplumed: cats often find them,
and leave little but feathers to the owner. Occasionally the bird is
caught by the neck, and I have been told of an instance, in which a
Whitewing taken thus, flying with impetuosity on the alarm, cut its
head absolutely off with the string, the body falling one way and the
head another. From the ease with which they are procured, they are a
good deal eaten, though seldom fat, and rather subject to be bitter.
When the rains fall, we see the Whitewings but seldom; they betake
themselves to the deep woods and impenetrable morasses, when their
presence is indicated by their loud stammering coo. The full coo
consists of more notes than that of any other of our Doves; rendered
into negro-English, it runs thus: “_Since poor Gilpin die, cow-head
spoil_,” the last note protracted and falling meaningly. This, however,
is not uttered, as far as my experience goes, when coming out into “the
open” to feed. Two which I had with other Doves, caged, were usually
silent; but in Mr. Hill’s larger collection, the Whitewings were most
pertinaciously vociferous. All the day long, the four-fold coo, “_two
bits for two_” or “_what’s that to you?_” loud and vehement, saluted
our ears. Sometimes it was replaced by a sort of chorus, more musical,
“_toora-loora, toora-loora_.” The other Doves cooed occasionally, but
the Whitewings incessantly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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