58 Forest Birds. 
species from which our domestic pigeons are 
derived. It differs but slightly from the Stock 
Dove in size and colouring, but in its habits it 
is widely dissimilar. The rock pigeon is an 
inhabitant of wild rocky coasts, building in caves 
and cliffs, very often in large companies. These 
birds never settle on a tree, and the fact that 
domestic pigeons will never do so of their own 
accord, goes far to prove that they have sprung 
from the rock pigeon and not from the Stock Dove, 
whose home is in the trees. Again, when domestic 
pigeons are let loose, and gradually “ hark back ” to 
nature, they invariably resort to cliffs or stone 
buildings, and breed in companies, whereas had 
they sprung from the Stock Dove, they would build 
in trees and go in pairs. Although we have said 
that the rock pigeon and Stock Dove are very 
similar in plumage, there is one striking mark on 
the rock pigeon—a white patch of feathers on the 
back just above the tail, which is peculiar to this 
bird alone, thus distinguishing it from other wild 
pigeons found in this country. When we examine 
the common sorts of domestic pigeons, and especially 
those to be found in the neighbourhood of all our 
great buildings in London, which have gradually 
regained almost their natural state, we see at once 
that the majority of them possess this white patch 
