BRITISH BIRDS. 1 25 



breast, upper part, purple red, shading away to greyish 

 blue ; the wings are long, and measure, when expanded, 

 2 feet 2 inches from tip to tip ; wing coverts bluish grey ; 

 primaries leaden grey, with pale outer margins ; secondaries 

 light greyish blue, with dark ends, the three inside have a 

 large spot of black on the outer web ; tail bluish grey for 

 two-thirds, then a band of light grey, and a dark, almost 

 black, tip ; tail coverts grey ; legs and toes carmine. 

 Female differs little from male, but has less iridescence on 

 neck. Length, 1 foot 2 inches, male; 1 foot Ih inches, female. 



This is the least numerous of the four species of British 

 doves, but is evenly distributed. Resident. 



It feeds on seeds and leaves and succulent plants, alsa 

 small snails and worms, acorns, beech -mast, etc. 



The eggs are two, white, and rounded. The nest is on 

 the ground, or in a hole in a tree. Incubation lasts seven- 

 teen days. 



Rock Pigeox. — Bill horn -colour; cere white; heal 

 greyish blue ; neck greenish blue above, and reddish 

 purple on its lower half, both parts glitter with iridescent 

 hues ; back and wing coverts dull leaden blue ; secondaries 

 black, w'ith a band of lead blue about the middle ; 

 primaries dark grey ; rump white ; upper tail coverts 

 dark lead blue ; tail same, with broad end of a deep black ; 

 legs and feet carmine ; eye orange red. 



Female similar, but less iridescence on neck. 



More abundant on the coast than inland. Resident 

 throughout the year. 



Its food consists of seed-:, berries, snails, and the succulent 

 leaves of various plants. 



These birds, and the last, pair for life, but if one be 

 killed or dies, the survivor does not waste much time in 

 lamenting it, but quickly sets to work to find it a successor^ 

 and is o^enerallv successful. 



