ROCK DOVE. 15 



Dove is generally distributed. In many localities either 

 wild birds, or, more probably, those which have become feral, 

 are chequered with black on the wing-coverts and back, and 

 to such a variety the late Mr. Blyth once doubtfully gave 

 the name of C. ajfinis. 



In the Fteroes* it is abundant, but in Scandinavia the 

 wild bird is scarce and very local ; whilst in the rest of 

 northern and central Europe it is decidedly uncommon, 

 except in a feral state, until mountainous regions are 

 reached, when, as in the Pyrenees, it is again met with. In 

 the Canaries it is common, and Mr. Godman states that it is 

 abundant in the Azores, most of his specimens being so 

 dark in plumage that the band on the wings is no longer 

 visible ; dark forms are also found in Madeira, accompanied 

 by so much variability as to raise a strong suspicion that 

 they are domestic Pigeons which have become feral. The 

 same suspicion attaches to C. gymnocycliis, G. R. Gray, 

 from Senegambia, and also to the birds now found in a wild 

 state in the island of St. Helena. 



On the coasts of the countries on both sides of the 

 Mediterranean, and on the islands, it is generally distributed ; 

 and in the mountain ranges of Spain, especially in the 

 neighbourhood of the Sierra Nevada, the Editor has seen 

 immense flocks pouring forth from the deep cavernous gorges 

 on the way to their feeding-grounds. He estimated that 

 within a short time fully 7,000 birds passed in his immediate 

 vicinity, each flock being led by a pied and doubtless half- 

 bred bird, of which description there were generally a few 

 individuals in every band. It must be remembered that 

 vast numbers of semi-domestic Pigeons exist in Spain, and 

 that there are well-known laws for their protection, such 

 as the prohibition to shoot at them within a certain distance 

 of the dovecote, or when obviously returning to it. In 

 Italy Bonaparte considered that he had discovered a new 

 species, to which he gave the name of C. turricola ; but this 

 is now considered a mere variety or half-breed. 



* A bird in which the black bars on the wing were replaced by a few spots, 

 was named by Brehm C. amalice. 



