9 
The Rock Dove is interesting as being the true wild pigeon, 
the ancestor of all the numerous varieties of the Domestic Pigeon, 
as is so fully explained by Darwin in his works. A large case in 
the central hall of the Natural History Museum at South 
Kensington well illustrates this matter. The specimen of the 
Rock Dove in the Museum was shot at Dyrham. 
There is no need to dwell on the Pheasants, Partridges or 
Quails. The Red Legged Partridge, mentioned by Terry as local 
though rare, is not mentioned by Cecil Smith in the “ Birds of 
Somersetshire,” and is recorded by the Rev. A. C. Smith as 
found rarely in Wiltshire. The specimen in the Museum was 
shot at Oliffe Pypard, in Wiltshire. It is not a bird to be 
encouraged, as it drives away its more valuable congener, and the 
flavour of its flesh is not to be compared with that of the ordinary 
Partridge. 
One interesting group of birds belongs to this order—the 
Bustards. Cecil Smith mentions that he could find no record of 
them in Somersetshire, but Mr. Blometield, in a paper read before 
the Field Club in 1872, speaks of a flock of Great Bustards having 
appeared near Barnstaple, in the winter of 1870, whence they 
dispersed over the adjoining counties, one being found at. 
Shapwick, in Somerset. It was during the same winter that the 
last Bustard was seen and shot on Salisbury Plain, once the 
greatest resort of these birds in Britain. 
There is no local record of this bird, although Cecil Smith 
considers it probable that it once had a habitat in the high open 
ground of the Mendips between Bath and Wells. 
WATER Birps. 1.—WADERS. 
The Waders occupy a middle space between Ground birds. 
and true Water-fowl, embracing Plovers, Cranes, Herons, Snipe, 
Rail, &c. 
Distinguished by length of legs and neck, and admirable 
developement of feet for wading on soft mud, or running lightly 
