56 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



white, and during flight form a conspicuous patch, 

 by wliich the bird may easily be distinguished 

 from any other member of the pigeon family. Quills 

 dark grey edged with white ; the feathers of the 

 spurious wing are almost black. Tail-quills of 

 varying shades of grey, darkest towards the tip. 

 Chin bluish-grey ; neck and breast glossy purple 

 and green ; belly and under-parts light ash-grey. 

 Legs and toes red ; claws brown. 



The female is somewhat duller in plumage and 

 smaller in size. 



Situation and Locality. — In fir, yew, whitethorn, 

 and various other kinds of trees. I have met with 

 it on the crown of a pollard, and frequently on the 

 ivy-clad trunk of a tree, growing almost at right 

 angles from high rocks and precipices. I have 

 also met with it upon several occasions in an 

 isolated thorn bush growing in the middle of a 

 large field. Our picture is from a photograph, to 

 obtain which it was necessary to tie the camera 

 into a liigh tree. The nest is situated at a height 

 of from five to seventy or eighty feet, and is 

 found all over the United Kingdom where suitable 

 woodland is to be met with. 



Materials. — Dead twigs and sticks woven into 

 a loose platform. The nest is often such a poor, 

 flimsy aflair that the eggs may be seen through it 

 from beneath, and it is frequently blown down by 

 gales of wind. On the other hand, I have on one 

 or two occasions met with nests of a substantial 

 character, into which bits of dried sods had been 

 introduced, so that not even a ray of light could 

 find its way through. 



Eggs. — Two. White and glossy, similar to those 

 of the Rock Dove, but larger. Average size about 

 1-65 by 1-25 in. 



