336 COLUMBID.E. 



Oil the walls of an old castle in the island of Kerrera, 

 near Oban, in the Western Higlilands, indifferent, seemingly, 

 whether they nestled in the lofty cliffs on the mainland, 

 where they are numerous, or on the equally secure ruins 

 of masonry in the opposite island. That they are truly 

 wild here there can be no doubt. Indeed, the precipitous 

 shores of Scotland, the Hebrides, and Orkneys, afford them 

 exactly the kind of retreat that suits their habits ; and 

 here among inaccessible rocks they build their nests and, 

 on their return from their inland marauding expeditions, 

 pass their nights. Their attitudes, mode of flight, progression 

 when on the ground, note, and manner of feeding, are the 

 same as those of the common tame Pigeon ; and, as might 

 be expected, both wild and tame birds agree in declining 

 to perch on trees. 



Macgillivray, who had opportunities of watching them 

 in their native haunts at all seasons, informs us that they 

 leave their caves * in the crags at early dawn, and, pro- 

 ceeding along the shore, unite with other parties on their 

 way till they reach the cultivated grounds, where they 

 settle in large flocks, diligently seeking for grains of barley 

 and oats, seeds of wild mustard and other weeds, picking 

 up also the small snails f which abound in sandy pastures 

 near the sea. In summer they make frequent short visits 

 of this kind, returning at intervals to feed their young. 

 In winter they form much larger flocks, and, making the 

 best use of their short day, feed more intently, thus 

 holding out a temptation to the fowler, who, if sufficiently 

 wary, can sometimes approach near enough to kill a large 

 number at a shot. They are supposed to pair for life ; and 

 this, I believe, is generally the case with tame Pigeons. 

 They lay two eggs, and sit for three weeks. The male and 



* "The Dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's 

 mouth." — Cant. ii. 14. 



+ Helix ericctorum, a flattish, striped shell ; and Bulhnus acutus, 

 an oblong, conical shell, mottled with grey and black. 



