Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/40

The mountain dove is alſo nearly the ſize of a houſe pigeon, has the ſame red-coloured bill and legs, but its feathers are of a brown colour. It differs but little from the ring-neck dove, being only a ſize larger, and builds its neſt on trees in the mountains, or at the ſides of ſteep precipices, where it makes a pleaſing, loud, plaintive noiſe. The ring-neck dove builds in coverts in the woods, as does alfo the partridge, which is likewiſe a ſpecies of the dove kind, but from its great reſemblance, it is called the pieddrié by the French. The fleſh of the three kinds is much liked, but has a bitter taſte, as has that of moſt other birds of the country, owing to the berries they feed on; this taſte, though at firſt diſagreeable, is ſoon reliſhed by moſt people, and they are reckoned very wholeſome. The ground dove is not much bigger than a lark when ſtripped of its feathers, which are of a brown colour. It has a red bill and legs, makes a pleaſing plaintive

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