Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A genus of doves, based by Selby in 1835 upon the common turtle of Europe, Columba turtur of Linnæus, now called Turtur communis, vulgaris, or auritus. (See cut under turtle-dove.) There are many other Old World species, among them T. risorius, probably the turtle of Scripture.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The valley is also a very important migration route for terrestrial birds such as the turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), which is said to gather in the hundreds of thousands on islands in the river in spring and autumn.

    Middle East steppe 2008

  • Forest areas are characterized with blackcock (Lyrurus tetrix), and other forest birds (Dendrocopos major, Oriolus oriolus, Columba palumbus, Streptopelia turtur, Parus cyanus, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Anthus trivialis) and others.

    Kazakh upland 2008

  • Great numbers of gulls (‘Procellaria turtur’, Smith), and several others, float over the surface.

    Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa 2004

  • Etenim passer invenit sibi donum: et turtur nidum sibi, ut ponat pullos suos.

    The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book Various

  • The Latin name of this bird, turtur, is derived from its note, and is a repetition of the

    Easton's Bible Dictionary M.G. Easton 1897

  • Moreover, I find, on comparing the skeletons of _Columba livia_, _oenas_, _palumbus_, and _turtur_, which are ranked by all systematists in two or three distinct though allied genera, that the differences are extremely slight, certainly less than between the skeletons of some of the most distinct domestic breeds.

    The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Vol. I. Charles Darwin 1845

  • "BirdLife also demands that the Maltese Government ensures that a spring hunting and trapping season for Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix is never re-opened on the island."

    timesofmalta.com 2010

  • Streptopelia turtur, and Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix, in the years 2004-2007.

    ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science 2009

  • Farmland birds were worst affected, with the number of European turtle-doves (Streptopelia turtur) falling by 79\%.

    Signs of the Times 2008

  • Charamont, and all thofe that came with him, had underftood from iifiv what had paffed the day before v and by the knowledge they had of fu great amis - turtur. t befallen t, heK. ing, thty feem'd not allonilli'd at all at thofe marks pf fadnefs tbey beheld Book III.

    Pharamond; or, The history of France. A fam'd romance in twelve parts; the whole work never before Englished; 1677

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