230 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



COLUMBA LIYIA, Bonnatene. 

 EOCK-DOVE. 



Columba liYia, Boimat. Encyd. Method, i, p. 227 (1790) ; SalcaJuri, Cat. 

 Birds Brit. Mus. xxi, p. 2-j'2 ; Malhcrbc, Fauna Orn. de I'AUj. p. 2o 

 (1855) ; Locke, E.rpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 110 (18C7) ; Kocnig, J./. 0. 

 1888, p. 251; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 69; Whitaker, Ibis, 1891, p.' 96 ; 

 Erlangcr, J. f. 0. 1900, p. 21. 



Description.' — Adult male, spring, from Kasriu, Central Tunisia. 



Head bluish-slate, the whole of the neck and nape glossed with metallic- 

 green aud purple reflections ; back and greater portion of the upper wing- 

 coverts blue-grey ; rump white ; upper tail-coverts and tail bluish-slate, the 

 latter tipped with black : quills slate, tipped with dull lirown ; two black 

 bars across the wings ; breast slate, glossed with purple ; remainder of 

 underparts bluish-slate. 



Iris brick-red ; bill reddisli ; cere whitish ; feet dark red. 



Total length 1350 inches, wing 9, culmen -85, tarsus I'lO. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather smaller aud duller in 

 coloration. 



Observations. — My collection from Tunisia contains, besides the ordinary 

 form of this Pigeon, an example with the dark lower back and rump (C 

 schimpcri, Bp. ?), as also a very pale specimen, and a very dark one, both 

 the latter ivith the white rump. 



The Rock-Dove is resident and abundant throughout the Eegency, 

 being found wherever there are cliffs and rocks sufficient to afford it 

 shelter and convenient nesting sites. Inland localities are frequented 

 as much as the sea-coast, particularly those near water, but should the 

 supply of this fail, as not uufrequently happens in the Saharan region 

 in dry seasons, the birds will, like Sand-Grouse, daily traverse great 

 distances in search of the precious liquid. 



I have found the species remarkably plentiful in the neighbourhood 

 of Kasrin, where the country is very broken and high cliffs border 

 the banks of the river of that name. Here the Eock-Dove may 

 be observed in vast numbers, nesting in the holes and crannies of 

 the steep sides, in company with innumerable Kestrels, Unspotted 

 Starlings, and other rock-frequenting birds. I have also met with 

 Rock-Doves in most of the arid mountain ranges further south, and 

 on the semi-desert plains to the west of Gafsa, though in smaller 

 numbers. The species also occurs on the Island of Djerba. 



