112 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



referred especially to the neighbourhood of 

 Plymouth, and there Gatcombe, even in his later 

 years considered the bird rare. The Rev. M. A. 

 Mathew kindly writes that he has hitherto failed to 

 obtain conclusive proof of the Stock Dove nesting in 

 Devon. That it does breed in the north of the 

 County is nevertheless attested by Messrs. Rawson, 

 Young, and Aplin, each of whom has independently 

 assured the Editor that he has seen Stock Doves 

 nesting in the sea cliffs. Mr. Rawson, who has been 

 pressed upon this point, is certain that Stock Doves 

 nest along the coast between Lynmouth and Baggy 

 Point. Mr. Mitchell of Tavistock, whose observa- 

 tions are those of a purely field naturalist, and one 

 who has spent his life in the county, writes that 

 Stock Doves nest in some steep rocks near Tavistock. 

 He has also seen them frequenting the sea cliffs. 

 Here, at Broadclyst, this bird nests under my 

 personal observation every year, generally in the 

 old oaks in the park, but I once found a nest m the 

 thick ivy which covers one side of the house. I am 

 quite unable to confirm Dr. Moore's statement that 

 "large flocks" occur in winter. On the contrary, I 

 believe the Stock Dove to be at present a scarce bird 

 at all seasons ; though, as already stated, it is fully 

 established as a breeding species. 



ROCK DOYK—Columba livia, Bonnat. 



A VERY scarce resident. " The Rock Dove," writes 

 Dr. Moore, "occurs in flocks, sometimes in winter 



