BLUE-ROCK . 27 



eggs and young. The food of this species is much the same as that 

 of the wood-pigeon ; beech-mast, acorns, and blackberries being, in 

 their respective seasons, favourite staples. The eggs of the stock-dove 

 are somewhat smaller than those of the wood-pigeon (from 1.4 to 1.5 

 inches long, against 1.55 to 1.7 in the latter), and are frequently 

 tinged faintly with cream-colour. 



Blue-Rock op Although generally designated in ornithological 



Roek-Dove works as the rock-dove, this bird is better known 



(Columba livia) ^n^o^g sportsmen as the blue-rock, and accordingly 



is so called in this work. From the stock-dove it 



may be distinguished at a glance by the presence of two conspicuous 



black bars across the wings, and also by a white patch near the base 



of the tail and the white under wing-coverts. The hen is smaller and 



duller in colour than the cock ; and the young in first plumage 



resemble the female parent, although lacking the bright metallic tints of 



the latter. In length the cock measures 13, and the hen 12^ inches. 



The geographical range of the blue-rock is extensive, embracing 

 Europe and the countries bordering the ^Mediterranean on the south 

 and east, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, north-western India, and perhaps 

 some parts of Central Asia. Over a large portion of the latter area 

 it is, however, replaced (although sometimes accompanied by) the 

 nearly allied C. rupestris, which is the species commonly met with on 

 the rocky cliffs near many of the villages between Kashmir and Leh, 

 where it occurs in immense flocks, and affords excellent sport to the 

 traveller, and likewise a welcome addition to his larder. It differs 

 from the European blue-rock by the presence of a broad white band 

 across the middle of the tail, as well as by its slightly paler colouring. 

 A third species, or race (C mtervicdia), which lacks the white patch 

 at the base of the tail distinctive of the European blue-rock, inhabits 

 south Persia, India, and Ceylon, whence it extends eastwards to China 

 and Japan. In north-western India many blue-rocks are intermediate 

 between the true C. livia and C. intermedia. 



In Europe the blue-rock extends as far north as the Orkneys, 

 Shetlands, and Faroes, and is also found locally in Scandinavia, breed- 

 ing in all these resorts. While uncommon in the south-east and south 

 of England, as well as in Devon and Cornwall, the blue-rock is more 

 abundant in other parts of the west of England and in Wales, while 

 it also breeds on the cliffs of Flamborough Head and Northumberland. 

 In Scotland it is widely distributed, although apparently more common 

 on the islands of Argyllshire than in the caves of the mainland ; in 



