The Woodpigeon or Ringdove. 49 
form the partial ring mentioned above. The breast 
and under side of the neck are purple-red, while the 
belly and under-tail coverts are ash-grey. The tail 
feathers are twelve in number, and are of three shades 
of grey. The beak, legs, and toes are dark pink. 
The feathers are very loosely attached to the skin, 
a slight blow being sufficient to cause them to fall 
out. When suddenly disturbed from a bush or thick 
tree, the Woodpigeon will often lose several feathers, 
through its contact with twigs as it rushes out. 
This bird builds in trees, and its nest is 
quite flat, and usually of the frailest description, 
being composed of sticks, with sometimes a few fine 
roots or feathers to do duty for a lining. It delights 
to build its nest in some plantation where it may be 
protected from the wind, and in these sheltered 
localities it is often so lightly put together that the 
two white eggs or the young birds may be seen by 
the passer-by from beneath. 
The nest, however, is often placed in more open 
situations, and in this case it will be found that it is 
more compactly, and much more strongly built than 
when placed in a sheltered spot. The nest repre- 
sented in the accompanying engraving is a good 
example of those found in isolated trees exposed to 
the full force of the wind. The nest is placed at a 
height varying from six to forty feet from the 
D 
