28 



PIGEONS 



some of the Scottish islands it occurs indeed in vast numbers. In 

 Ireland it is resident in the cliffs on most of the rocky parts of the 

 coast. 



The blue-rock, as its name implies, is essentially a resident on 

 bold rocky cliffs, in the crannies and clefts of which it constructs its 

 simple nest. Both high and low cliffs form indeed the home of this 

 dove, but however lofty the rocks to which it resorts, the lower portions 

 are generally chosen as nesting-sites, provided they afford sufficiently 

 secret hiding-places. The birds nest and breed well within such caves 

 or clefts ; but while the nest may sometimes be found within a foot 



or so from the entrance 

 to the cleft or cranny, it 

 is more often so deep 

 down as to be more or 

 less completely inaccess- 

 ible. In the north of 

 Scotland the blue-rock is 

 stated to breed during 

 eight months in the year, 

 nesting commencing as 

 early as March. If the 

 site be suitable and ac- 

 commodation abundant, 

 the colonies are often of 

 great size. In addition 

 to the ordinary food of 

 pigeons, this species is 

 said to devour large quan- 

 tities of snails. The soft 

 cooing note may be heard from early spring till autumn. The white 

 glossy eggs measure from 1.35 to 1.5 inches in length. 



The blue-rock is a bird of special interest, as being the ancestral 

 stock from which are descended all the European breeds of domesti- 

 cated pigeons; the Oriental breeds of the latter being similarly derived 

 from the Indian blue-rock. Among the breeds most nearly allied to 

 the ancestral stock is the homing, or so-called carrier, pigeon, whose 

 marvellous power of finding its way back to the spot from which it 

 has been carried is one of the most wonderful phenomena connected 

 with the animal kingdom. Sight certainly cannot be the means by 

 which this bird finds the homeward track ; and although it has been 

 suggested that the sense of smell forms the guide, there are many 



^LANO WARD STUDIOS 



K(x:K-novF;. 



