ROCK AND STOCK DOVES 37 



Nesting Period. — February to October. 



Site of Nest. — Ledges of rocks, or a recess in the face of a cliff. 



Materials Used. — Seaweed, grass, dry bents, a few sticks or twigs. 



Eggs. — Two. White; size, 1.45 by 1.15 inch. 



Food. — Beech-mast, grain, seeds, leaves of plants, and snails. 



Voice. — The notes much resemble those of the Ring Dove, but with 

 a " roo " introduced among the " coo's." 



Chief Features. — A typical bird of precipitous sea cliffs. Much 

 smaller than the Ring Dove, and distinguished as under. 



Plumage. — Ashy -blue, which is lighter on the wings; white rump; 

 a lustrous neck and breast, with beautiful purple and green 

 reflections; on the wing there are two transverse black bands, 

 whilst the primaries and tail are tipped with the same colour; 

 white on the outer web of the outer tail-feathers; iris light 

 orange; black bill; red feet. Length. — Twelve and a half inches. 



DOVE, STOCK (Columba cenas) 



Local Names. — Blue-Backed Dove, Blue Rock, Blue Rucker, Bush 

 Dove, Stock Pigeon, Wood Dove, Wood Pigeon. 



Haunt. — Woods and sea cliffs. 



Nesting Period. — February to October. 



Site of Nest. — Holes in trees and pollard tops, also in crevices and 

 ledges of cliffs. In sandy districts the nest is said to be placed 

 under a bush or in the burrow of a Rabbit. 



Materials Used. — Sticks and twigs. Often none. 



Eggs. — Two. White; size about 1.45 by 1.15 inch. 



Food. — Leaves and seeds of succulent plants, snails, worms, beech- 

 mast, acorns, etc. 



Voice. — A crooning, or grunting, note ; a sort of continuous murmur. 



Chief Features. — May be mistaken, when flying, for the Ring Dove. 

 Care should be taken to identify it from the Rock Dove, as 

 both species often nest close together on sea cliffs. 



Plumage. — Bluish-grey head, throat, wings, and lower parts; metal- 

 lic reflections on the bottom portions of the neck; wine-red 

 breast; on the last two secondaries and some of the wing- 

 coverts there is a spot of black; primaries grey at the base, 

 verging into dusky ; grey tail, with black bars near the end, the 

 outer feather having a spot of white on the outer web, near the 

 base ; iris reddish-brown ; yellow bill, red at the base ; red feet. 

 Length. — Thirteen and a half inches. 



