DOVE 163 



In former days, when the breadth of land in Britain under green 

 crops was comparatively small, these birds found little food in the 

 dead season, and this scarcity was a natural check on their super- 

 abundance.-^ But since the extended cultivation of turnips and 

 plants of similar use the case is altered, and perhaps at no time of 

 the year has provender become moi-e plentiful than in winter. The 

 Ring-Dove may be easily distinguished from other European species 

 by its larger size, and especially by the white spot on either side 

 of its neckj forming a nearly continuous "ring," whence the bird 

 takes its name, and the large white patches in its wings, which are 

 very conspicuous in flight. It breeds several times in the year, 

 making for its nest a slight platform of sticks on the horizontal 

 bough of a tree, and laying therein two eggs — which, as in all the 

 Columhidse, are white. 



The Stock-Dove (C. cenas of most authors) is a smaller species, 

 with many of the habits of the former, but breeding by preference 

 in the stocks of hollow trees or in rabbit-holes. It is darker in 

 colour than the Ring-Dove, without any white on its neck or wings, 

 and is much less common and more locally distributed. Formerly 

 scarce or unknown in the north of England, it has of late years 

 been found to extend over almost the whole of Scotland. 



The Rock-Dove {C. livia, Temm.) much resembles the Stock- 

 Dove, but is of a lighter colour, with two black bars on its wings, 

 and a white rump. In its wild state it haunts most of the rocky 

 parts of the coast of Europe, from the Fseroes to the Cyclades, and, 

 seldom going inland, is comparatively rare. Yet, as it is without 

 contradiction the parent - stem of all our domestic Pigeons, its 

 numbers must far exceed those of both the former put together. 

 In Egypt and various parts of Asia it is represented by what Mr. 

 Dar-svin has called "Wild Races," which are commonly accounted 

 good " species " (C. schimperi, C. affinis, G. intermedia, C. leuconota, 

 and so forth), though they differ from one another far less than do 

 nearly all the domestic forms, of which more than 150 kinds that 

 " breed true," and have been separately named, are known to exist. 

 Very many of these, if found wild, Avould have unquestionably 

 been ranked by the best ornithologists as distinct " species," and 



^ Yet one curious fact in connexion herewith has never been satisfactorily 

 explained. It not unfrequently happens that after Wood-Pigeons have abounded 

 in a district for some two or three years, so as to be a perfect plague, their 

 numbers have suddenly dwindled without any assignable cause, for the ordinary 

 modes of destruction prove wholly futile in checking their multiplication. 

 Another fact, perhaps worth recording, is the curious increase of late years — say 

 from 1885, or possibly a little earlier — of this species in St. James's Parle, where 

 it is now as numerous, if not as familiar, as in what used to be the Gardens of 

 the Tuileries in Paris. I had long known that it inhabited the singular paradise 

 afforded by the gardens of Buckingham Palace, but that it should establish 

 itself even nearer to the centre of London I had not expected. 



