560 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
which it is distinguished by having the rump and upper tail-coverts 
deep leaden-grey instead of ashy-white. 
The Bosch-Duif or Wilde-Dwif of the colonists is common 
throughout the colony, nesting in rocky places in inaccessible ledges 
and holes, never in trees. The nests are rude structures of a few 
sticks situated on a ledge or cleft. Dr. G. W. Atherstone writes :— 
«T saw it at Committees’ Drift, breeding in the Old Fort. The 
Hottentot living there had a brood of young ones, and the old bird 
with her wings clipped.”’? They fly in flocks when the crops are on 
the ground, and do considerable damage to the agriculturist. 
In the sea-face of the mountains, of which Cape Point forms the 
extreme south, there are numerous caverns tenanted by these birds. 
Some years ago we entered one of them in a boat, and for the first 
time had the pleasure of seeing this fine Pigeon breeding in con- 
siderable numbers: every ledge of the cavern side was tenanted by 
as many nests as could be conveniently stowed away, while the 
parent birds were continually arriving or departing on their busy 
task of feeding their young. The cave was unapproachable except 
by water, and one would have thought that the birds would have 
been careless in consequence in the choice of their eyrie; but not a 
nest was accessible. We have, however, obtained eggs of this species 
from other sources; they are always two in number, glazy-white, 
nearly similar at each end: axis, 17’”; diameter, 12’”. 
Mr. Rickard states that it occurs near East London, and Captain 
Trevelyan says that it is common in British Kaffraria. Mr. Buckley 
procured it in Natal, and Captain Shelley states that it arrives in 
that colony in large numbers ; but he did not meet with it in March 
or April. 
According to Mr. Barratt it is common in the Transvaal, where 
it flies about in vast flocks, amongst the crops, and on newly- 
ploughed land. Mr. Ayres observes :—“These Pigeons were pretty 
common about the Magaliesbergen ; and I saw them in pairs and 
shot some young birds amongst the ravines and precipitous clefts of 
the rocks, where, without doubt, they breed, and where I frequently 
heard their deep notes.” During Mr. Jameson’s expedition to 
Mashoona Land a specimen was procured at Dry Hart River, on the 
25th of January, and Mr. Ayres gives the following note :—‘“< The 
birds were passing over in flocks from east to west, this evening. 
The crop of our specimen was crammed with the triangular sharp- 
