Birds of Britain 



on each side by a patch of white. The breast is a rich 

 vinous purple. Tail and wing feathers nearly black. Bill 

 yellow ; legs red. The sexes are alike ; and the young 

 resemble their parents, but are duller in colour and lack the 

 metallic and white patch on the sides of the neck. Length 

 17 in. ; wing 10 in. 



THE STOCK DOVE 



Columba oenas, Linnseus 



The Stock Dove is rather smaller and considerably less 

 common than the previous species, but is nevertheless by 

 no means uncommon in England, and has greatly increased 

 of late years, especially in Scotland. In Ireland it is still 

 a rare and local species. The name " Stock Dove " is not 

 due, as many erroneously suppose, to its being the race from 

 which our domestic Pigeons spring, but to its habit of nest- 

 ing in the stocks and boles of old timber. Such places are, 

 however, by no means exclusively used, for it also nests in 

 -caves, ledges of cliffs, and rabbit-burrows. Otherwise its 

 habits are not materially different from those of the Wood 

 Pigeon. As a rule it goes about in pairs, and large flocks 

 are never met with, even when migrating from its more 

 northerly breeding quarters. 



It is a smaller and duller bird than the Wood Pigeon, 

 lacking the white spot on the neck ; while the vinous purple 

 on the breast is not nearly so bright. There are traces of 

 two indistinct wing bars. Length 13*5 in.; wing S'S in. 



270 



