348 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 

 Family COLUMBID.E. Genus Columba. 



ROCK- DOVE. 



CoLUi\iBx\ LI VI A, Brisson. 



Double Brooded. Laying season, March and April to 

 September. 



British breeding area : The Rock-Dove is more 

 or less commonly distributed along such rocky coasts 

 as are suited to its requirements throughout the British 

 Islands. It is sparingly and locally distributed on the 

 eastern and southern coasts of England, but becomes 

 abundant further north, especially in the Hebrides, the 

 Orkneys, and the Shetlands, and along the western 

 shores of the Scottish mainland ; whilst the same 

 remarks apply to Ireland, the bird being specially 

 numerous on all the wave-hoUowcd cliffs. The inland 

 colonies of this bird are unquestionably Domestic 

 Pigeons that have become feral, or their descendants. 



Breeding habits : The Rock-Dove is a resident in 

 the British Islands. The truly wild Rock-Dove is only 

 found on the coast. Its favourite breeding-haunts are 

 such parts of the marine precipices that abound with 

 fissures and wave-worked tunnels and caves. All 

 through the year it is more or less gregarious, and may 

 generall}' be found breeding in colonies of varying size, 

 according to the amount of accommodation afforded. 

 The Rock-Dove prefers a cave, or a large and roomy 

 hollow in the cliffs, which is either washed by the sea, 

 or only accessible to the most daring of climbers. 

 If caves are not to be had, the colonies are more 

 scattered up and down the cliffs, wherever suitable 

 fissures and clefts can be found. This bird pairs for 

 life, and continues to resort to certain caves year after 



