BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 129 



As a truly wild bird, then, the Rock-Dove is found 

 on parts of the coast where there are cliff's with plenty 

 of caves and indentations. Such haunts are few in Eng- 

 land and Wales as a whole, and the species is little 

 known except on parts of the west coast and on the 

 north-east. Round the coasts of Scotland and Ireland 

 and their outlying islands, haunts are abundant and 

 the bird is numerous. Inside a suitable cave many birds 

 may be foiuid nesting on the ledges. Except that it 

 generally uses ledges or fissures of the cliffs, the Rock- 

 Dove's nesting economy resembles that of its allies already 

 discussed. The two eggs are oval in shape, and glossy 

 white in colour. Domestic or feral birds not occupying 

 special dove-cots use buildings instead of cliff's ; like the 

 wild birds, they avoid even perching on trees. 



THE TURTLE=DOVE 



(Turtur communis). 

 Plate 43. 



The three native Pigeons already discussed are all 

 congeners ; but the species which we now come to is a 

 representative of another group. No very marked differ- 

 ences exist that need be noted here, except that the 

 Turtle - Dove is of more slender and graceful build. 

 The note, used chiefly by the male, is a soft ' coo,' ({uite 

 different from the loud, repeated call of the Wood-Pigeon. 



The Turtle-Dove is merely a summer visitor to the 

 British Isles, arriving late in April or early in May, 

 and usually leaving in September, but sometimes linger- 

 ing later in mild seasons. But it is only to part of 

 our area that the species is native, being common in 

 the southern, midland, and eastern districts of England, 



