122 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



long narrow feathers ; the front of the upper part of the 

 neck is white ; but the lower part and the breast chestnut 

 red, with long black spots ; the back of the neck, the back» 

 and the scapulars deep blue black ; the wing coverts white, 

 with broad black edges ; secondaries white ; primaries 

 dark grey ; under parts bluish grey ; tail black ; legs and 

 feet dark orange. Length, 1 foot 10 inches. 



Winter visitors only, these birds are, nevertheless, ex- 

 tremely shy, and swim low in the water, often with the 

 nostrils only above the surface. 



Occasionally they breed in the north of Scotland, and 

 their principal food is small fish. 



Both this bird and the last seem to form a kind of con- 

 necting link between the Ducks and the Gulls. 



THE DOVES, OR PIGEONS. 



Passing from what may be described as amphibious 

 birds, namely, the Duck family, wiiich, for the most part, 

 are equally at home on land and water, we come to one, the 

 members of which are terrestrial and arboreal, namely, the 

 Doves, or Pigeons, of which there are four representa- 

 tives in Britain, but a great number in her dependencies. 



Fami ly — Colinnbidie. 



Genus — 1. Columba. C. anas. Stock-Dove. 



C. livia. Rock Pigeon. 



C. palunibus. Ring-Dove. 



2. Tnrtu)'. T. communis. Turtle-Dove. 



Stock-Dove. — Bill long, straight, pale brownish red, 

 with yellowish edges ; cere yellowish red ; eye bright 

 orange red ; head bluish grey ; sides of neck iridescent 

 green and reddish purple; nape and bnck bluish grey; 



