LETTER VIII. 



83 



-r-yx 



The Eock Dove's nest is 

 made up of small sticks or 

 heather, or dried seaweed, 

 and is lined with dried grass ; 

 the situation selected is any 

 little ledge or cleft within 

 the sheltering bosom of a 

 rocky cavern. The eggs are 

 two in number, generally pro- 

 ducing male and female birds. 

 The time for commencing 

 their nesting seems rather 

 variable ; this year I found 

 some young ones already 

 hatched on the 2nd of April, 

 while other pairs were only 

 erecting their nests. They 

 have several broods in the 

 year, and their eggs may be 

 found unhatched as late as 

 September. 



It is rather a timid bird 

 if often shot at, but is by no. 

 means a shy or wary bird ; 

 in the fields the feeding 

 flocks may often be openly 

 approached, or the most bare- 

 faced attempts at stalking 



