ROCK DOVE. 273 



The manners of the Rock Doves are similar to those of our 

 domestic pigeons, which are evidently descended from indivi- 

 duals of this species. When searching for food, they walk 

 about with great celerity, moving the head backwards and for- 

 wards at each step, the tail sloping towards the ground, and 

 the tips of the wings tucked up over it. In windy weather they 

 usually move in a direction more or less opposite to the blast, 

 and keep their body nearer to the ground than when it is calm, 

 the whole flock going together. When startled, they rise sud- 

 denly, and by striking the ground with their wings produce a 

 crackling noise. When at full speed they fly with great celerity, 

 the air whistling against their pinions. Their flight is very 

 similar to that of the Ringed and Golden Plovers, birds w^hich 

 in form approach very nearly to the Pigeons, as may be seen 

 more especially on comparing their skeletons ; and as this affi- 

 nity has not been observed by any other person, I would direct 

 the attention of ornithologists to it. They usually alight ab- 

 ruptly when the place is open and clear, and if very hungry 

 immediately commence their search ; although on alighting 

 they frequently stand and look around them for a few moments. 

 On other occasions however, they fly over the field in circles, 

 descending gradually. When flying from the rocks to the 

 places where they procure their food, and when returning in 

 the evening, they do not mount high in the air ; and when 

 passing over an eminence they fly so low as almost to touch it. 

 Wlien the wind is very high, and their course is against it, 

 they fly in the same manner, taking advantage of the shelter. 

 It used to afford me much pleasure, and probably would be 

 interesting to most people, to observe from one of the wild 

 headlands of Harris, the pigeons flying swiftly and silently 

 towards their homes, along the cliffs, while every now and 

 then a string of cormorants, gannets, or guillemots would come 

 up, and a straggling flock of gulls pursue their route in a de- 

 sultory manner. 



The notes of the Rock Dove resemble the syllables cqd-poo- 

 coo quickly repeated, the last prolonged. It is monogamous, 

 as I apprehend all ^vild birds, even the Gallinaceous, are, and 

 its nuptials are celebrated with much cooing and circumambu- 



