300 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
The egg is plain white, rather larger than that of 
the Common Pigeon. 
Stock Dove, Columba enas. The Stock Dove 
is by no means a common species in this county ; 
specimens, however, occasionally occur, roosting with 
Wood Pigeons, and are sometimes shot by mistake. 
One of my specimens was shot in this way in a small 
plantation near here: I have also one in the aviary 
which was picked up wounded some years ago: it 
has lived in my aviary ever since, somewhat con- 
tentedly, and is tolerably tame: if I had a male bird 
I think they would probably breed, as this one is 
constantly laying eggs and is most indefatigable in 
sitting on them: it will not, however, pair either 
with the Turtle Dove or the foreign Ring Dove 
(Columba risoria). The Stock Dove is resident 
here throughout the year. Meyer says they are not 
found in England after November, but that is a mis- 
take, as the one in my collection was shot in January, 
and there are also notices in the ‘ Zoologist’ of their 
being killed during the winter months, generally 
mixed up with flocks of Wood Pigeons. 
The food of the present species is much the same 
as that of the Wood Pigeon, but it is not sufficiently 
numerous to do any real damage : it consists, accord- 
ing to Yarrell, of “young leaves, peas, grain, seeds, 
berries, turnip-leaves, beech-nuts, acorns,” &c. 
The nest is usually placed in a hole in an old tree, 
but if that cannot be found a rabbit-hole will be 
