Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 30. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 30th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 1182. Turtle dove. The general colour is dark cenerious. The scapulars & wing coverts reddish brown, on each side of the neck a patch of black feathers tipped with white; the outer feathers of the tail white; the feet reddish. Columba turtur Linn. Tourterelle Buff. pl. enl. 394. They are migratory birds of Europe, and is the bird given as the model of conjugal fidelity. They are the most affectionate of the feathered tribe. If two of them are put into a cage, and one die, the other will soon pine to death. These are the birds which the Poets have put to the Car of Venus, which while they are flying with the car, they are caressing each other." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "European Turtle dove (C. turtur) they are migratory in Europe, and is the bird given as a model of conjugal felicity. They are the most affectionate of the feathered tribe. If a pair of them is put into a cage, and one die, the other will soon pine to death. Poets have put them to the Car [i.e., Chariot] of Venus, flying with the Car they are caressing each other." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
European Turtle Dove
Current Scientific Name
Columbidae | Streptopelia turtur
