200 ROCK DOVE. 



food ; this consists chiefly of grain, but it also eats the 

 seeds of many weeds. Its note, which is heard con- 

 tinually in the breeding season, is a soft cooing, not 

 differing much from that of the Wood Pigeon. It can 

 be very easily tamed, and there seems little doubt that 

 this bird is the origin of the Domestic Pigeon, from 

 which all the numerous varieties now in existence 

 have been evolved. 



The Rock Dove, in common with all the Doves, has 

 a very graceful walk. He struts with great dignity, 

 with his head held up high, and nods it backwards and 

 forwards with each step he takes. 



Rock Doves pair for life and are early breeders, eggs 

 being often found by the middle of March. Their 

 favourite breeding places are the rocky caves by the 

 sea-shore, a great many birds building in the same 

 cave. Less frequently they will nest in the crevices 

 and fissures of the rocks, and Meyer says they have 

 been known to build in a rabbit burrow. The nest is 

 built of plant stems and dry grass or seaweed, with a 

 few twigs. Like all the nests of this family, it is very 

 scanty. 



Two eggs are laid, pure white in colour, oval and 

 generally rounder and smaller than the Wood Pigeon's 

 eggs. 



In the wild state the Rock Dove rarely, if ever, 

 perches on a tree ; in this it differs from all our other 

 Pigeons. 



