DOVES 



COLUMBiE. 



Dove — Coluniha. — This genus is distributed by numerous species 

 over the whole world. Foiu" species arc European, and also belong 

 to Heligoland, m addition to which the small south-eastern species, 

 C. rism'ia, has also occurred here on one occasion. Audubon 

 mentions seven species as belonging to North Amci'ica, one of which, 

 C. viigratoria, has once or twice ocevuTed in England (Harting, 

 British Birds). 



244. — Ring Dove [Eingtaxjbe]. 

 COLUMEA PALUMBUS, Linn. 



Heligolantlish: Holt-Duwe= Wood Pitjeon. 



Columba palumbus. Naumami, vi. i68. 



Ring Dove. Dresser, vii. 3. 



Colombe ra/mier. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 444, iv. 307. 



In general this Dove, though quite common on the island, rarely 

 visits it in large numbers. Solitary individuals are met with earlj' 

 in March ; and later on, until about the end of April, fi-om three to 

 five examples may be seen daily. It is only in exceptional instances 

 that their numbers increase in spring to companies of ten or more 

 individuals. 



The autumn migi-ation commences during the latter half of Sep- 

 tember and lasts throughout the whole of October and until after the 

 middle of November. At this period the birds are much more 

 numerous, though flights of twenty or thirty individuals, such as 

 were observed, for instance, on the 25th of October 18S4, are rare 

 even at this season. 



This species is distributed over the whole of Europe, advancing 

 nearly up to the Arctic Circle. It is less numerous in the countries 

 of the South, and those bordering the Mediterranean. How far its 

 breeding area extends east of the Ural has not been determined 



