The Stock Dove 



THE nature student is not likely to con- 

 fuse this bird with its relatives the 

 ring dove, or the rock dove, if the following 

 simple facts are remembered. The ring dove 

 has a little patch of glossy white on either 

 side of its neck, and the rock dove a large 

 one on the lower part of its back, whereas 

 the Stock Dove has none. 



The Stock Dove is found in most parts 

 of England from the well- wooded districts of 

 the south, to the lonely valleys in Westmor- 

 land and Cumberland, is extending its breed- 

 ing area in Scotland, and is found in many 

 parts of Ireland. The writer discovered a 

 pair nesting in a disused rabbits' burrow 

 in the Outer Hebrides some years ago. 



It was thought at one time that all our 

 different varieties of domestic pigeons had 

 been bred from the Stock Dove, but this is 

 not so, as the rock dove is the real parent 

 of all tame pigeons. 



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