THE EOCK DOVE 



{Columba livia) 



The wide rano-ing Eock Dove is one of the most interest- 

 ing of British birds, for it is undoubtedly the original stock 

 from which all the varieties of tame Pigeons have descended. 

 Its white rump distinguishes it from all its congeners — a 

 peculiarity which most tame birds also possess. ISTeither the 

 Stock Dove nor the Wood Pigeon lend themselves to domest- 

 ication ; they have that in their nature which no art of man 

 can overcome — an inherent timidity, and apparent incapacity 

 to reproduce their species under the restraints of captivity. 

 Singularly enough the Eock Dove is inseparably associated 

 with some of the wildest scenery our islands can boast. It 

 may be said to be confined exclusively to the coast — to the 

 bold rocky headlands and sea-girt cliffs, and to rocky islands, 

 especially those where the precipices are full of caves and 

 fissures, in which the bird can rear its young and find shelter 

 from the elements. It may be that this rock -haunting 

 peculiarity is the one great secret of its readiness to become 

 domesticated, the buildings and dovecots of man easily taking 

 the place of the cliffs and the caves of its native wilds. In 

 some few inland districts the cliffs are frequented by Eock 

 Doves. These are undoubtedly tame birds, which have 

 become feral, and have gradually reverted to the colour of 

 the original stock. They mix with the tame Pigeons of the 

 surrounding dovecots, and often interbreed with them, so 



