284 COLUMBA LIVIA. 



a male and a female. Their nests are placed in caves of the 

 rocks on the sea-coasts, generally in the most inaccessible of 

 these, and are constructed in the same manner as those of the 

 Domestic Pigeon. They are easily tamed when taken young ; 

 yet it is said that when not particularly attended to, and sup- 

 plied with abundance of food, they are more apt to fly away 

 and join the flocks of their own species, than the common tame 

 pigeon. They are seen in large flocks in the winter and spring 

 months, when they frequent barn-yards much for food, espe- 

 cially w^hen the ground is covered with snow. I have also seen 

 them in large groups in the harvest time, when that happened 

 late in the year. There is a cave in a holm, on the west side 

 of North Yell, called the Holm of Gloup, a A^ery high rock, 

 covered however with a rich soil, in which great numbers build 

 their nests. There are also many places in the island of Fetlar 

 of the same description, where they are found. Indeed they 

 may be said to be abundant throughout the country." 



The three specimens sent are two males and a female, which 

 agree with the others described above as to colouring, and all 

 other essential qualities, as well as the form and structure of 

 the digestive organs. The following are the dimensions of 

 their parts : 



Male. Male. Female. 



Length to end of tail 14 18 13 



Extent of wings 27 2o 25 



Wing from flexure 9i 9 9 



Tail 4i 4 4 



Bill along the ridge \^ {^ ig 



Tarsus 1/^ lj% 1^% 



Hind toe and claw {I {^ \^ 



Middle toe and claw 1 j'^g 1 ^2 Ij^ 



CEsophagus 6^ 6i 6^ 



Crop in breadth 3 Sj% 3/g 



Gizzard 1{^ lj% lj% 



Intestine 45 89 



Coeca ^% j% 



Rectum li I/3 



