36 Mr. $ohn Flower. 
two eggs, and on July 21st I found two young birds, about 
half grown, in the nest. This year, I am glad to say, they 
have returned, and no doubt they will breed again in the same 
hollow bough. The two nests above mentioned were unusually 
late, as the Stock Dove is an early breeder. I have a pair of 
the eggs of this species here this evening, which I took from 
a fine old yew tree in Challock churchyard, near Ashford, Kent, 
on April 17th, 1876, and these had been incubated for some 
days when I took them. I found another, much smaller egg, 
and what appeared to be the remains of an abandoned nest, 
lower down in the same bough. I have reason to believe that 
the above is not the only instance of the breeding of this 
species near Croydon. For some years a pair has frequented 
some large elm trees still nearer to the town, and I have no 
doubt have bred in one of them, though I have never actually 
seen the nest. I have seen them constantly for the last three 
weeks on the same bough of the same tree. When once they 
have selected a breeding place they seem to remain as firmly 
attached to it as our tame pigeons do to their dovecot. 
Though it may be seen occasionally, the stock dove is anything 
but a common bird in our neighbourhood, probably because we 
have not any large number of the old and hollow trees which 
these birds require, and in which they breed. In parts of 
Norfolk and Suffolk, where there are few trees, Stock Doves 
breed in considerable numbers in the warrens, in deserted 
rabbit holes, and even on the ground, in the rabbit runs, under 
thick furze bushes. The breeding range of this species is 
peculiar, and is very much more restricted than that of the 
common Wood Pigeon. This common species is abundant in 
all parts of the British islands, and at all seasons of the year. 
The Stock Dove, on the other hand, has been known, on one 
occasion, to breed as far north as Northumberland, but in the 
British islands it very rarely breeds beyond lat. 54, or further 
west than long. 3 W. It has never occurred in Ireland, nor, 
with one doubtful exception, in Scotland. It is most abundant 
in some of the midland and eastern counties, and it occurs 
but sparingly in most of our southern counties, including 
Surrey. 
Foot of Cock Pheasant (Ph. colchicus L.) with an extra toe. 
—This, which is the right foot of a bird which was shot near 
Edenbridge, in Kent, by Mr. A. Eastty, one of our members, 
is like the foot of an ordinary pheasant from the tarsal joint 
downwards. But above the tarsal joint, and growing, ap- 
parently, from the inner side of the tibia, is an additional toe, 
growing in an upward direction. This seems to spring from 
the tibia, about an inch and a-half above the tarsal joint, and 
