Al'ES. 119 



ORDER, COLUMB^. 



FAMILY, COLUMBID^. 



268. Columba palumbtis. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 89. Rino-dove or 

 Wood Pigeon. Heb., n:i\ Pigeon ; 7nj, Young Pigeon. Arab., 'U^^, 

 Hainamat {^generic). 



The Ringdove is spread in countless myriads over the wooded parts of 

 the country at the season of migration, both vernal and autumnal. In 

 Gilead I have seen a migration which can only be equalled by the 

 descriptions we read of the flights of Passenger Pigeons in America. The 

 bulk of these prodigious flocks pass on, but a considerable number remain 

 throughout the winter, and are taken in great quantity by the villagers by 

 means of a decoy -bird with its eyelids sewn up, tied to a perch. Its 

 struggles attract a crowd of its fellows. The Ringdove, like the other 

 Cohwibidce, feeds largely on the leaves of the leguminous plants, which 

 abound in the country, coming into leaf in the Jordan valley throughout the 

 winter. 



The Ringdove is found throughout the greater part of Europe, and in 

 the Barbary States, breeding in the Atlas, but generally there migratory. It 

 does not appear to pass the Ural range, and Asia Minor and Palestine 

 are its south-eastern limits. 



269. Columba anas. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 279. Stock Dove. 



The Stock Dove is rare in Palestine, but is to be met with any day in 

 the regions of Gilead and Bashan, as well as near Jericho. 



The Stock Dove inhabits the temperate parts of Europe, the Barbary 

 States, Asia Minor, Syria, and Persia. 



270. Columba livia. Bonnat. Encycl. Meth. i., p. 227. Rock 

 Dove. 



This species is extremely abundant on the coast and the highlands west 

 of Jordan. The specimens from this district are identical with those fr m 

 Northern Europe. 



