252 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



C. livia schimperi Bonaparte. Grey of back, wings and 

 undcrparts much paler than in " livia " ; rump white tinged 

 grey. Smaller. Wing 184-210 (H.). 



Resident. — Egypt and Nubia. 



Columba oenas oenas L. Stock-Dove. Fr. Colomb ; 

 Ger. Hohltaube ; ItaL Columbella ; Swed. Skogsdufva. 



$ $ Slaty grey ; neck (except fore part) metallic green or purple, 

 chest vinous ; some black spots on wing coverts and secondaries ; 

 tail blue grey at base, towards the tip a narrow pale grey bar, with 

 a dark terminal bar. Iris dark brown. Bill red, yellowish towards 

 tip and greyish white at base above. Legs and feet pale red. 

 Wing $ 215-227, $ 210-216. Tarsus 26-27. Bill 17-18. 



B7-eeds.—^x\'(\s\\ Isles ; Continental Europe south from S. 

 Scandinavia, S. Finland, and Russia about 60" N. to Medi- 

 terranean, Black Sea, and Caucasus ; in Russia east to Urals ; 

 N.W. Africa; also in W. Asia. Northern birds migrate; becomes 

 more abundant in N. Mediterranean Countries and N.W. Africa 

 in winter ; also in Egypt. Resident in British Isles. 



Columba palumbus palumbus L. Ring-Dove. Fr, 



Colombe ramier ; Ger. Ringeltaube ; ItaL Colombaccio ; Swed. 

 Ring-dufva. 



c^ ? Head, throat, lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts 

 bluish slate ; sides of neck metallic green or lilac with patch of 

 creamy white ; back and scapulars greyish brown, outer wing 

 coverts white, breast vinous, tail black with broad bar of light 

 grey. Iris pale yellow. Bill red, yellow towards tip, base above 

 whitish. Legs and feet coral red. Wing 235-253. Tarsus 

 27-32. Bill 20-21. 



Breeds. — British Isles ; Continental Europe generally from 

 about 64° to the Mediterranean ; and also W. Asia. Northern 

 birds migrate. 



C. palumbus excelsa Bonaparte. White neck patches larger. 

 Wing 254-270 (H.). 



Resident. — Forests of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia. The status 

 of this form is very doubtful. 



C. palumbus maderensis Tschusi. Grey parts darker, back 

 and scapulars darker and browner. Wing 242-246 (H.). 



Resident. — Madeira. 



