294 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



tinacity for which at present we are totally at a loss to 

 account. 



A favourite situation for the Ring Dove is in the 

 plantations of young firs, and there they build their nests 

 in great plenty. We also see its rude and shallow nest 

 in almost every forest tree, sometimes in the hedgerows, 

 and not unfrequently in the yew or holly. But if placed 

 in the forest tree, the site is invariably found to be on a 

 flat branch, the nest being usually built close to the trunk. 

 In the branches of the yew or holly it is built more at 

 the end of the branches, for there it can find the best 

 support. Rude indeed is the nest of the Ring Dove : 

 nothing more than a platform of twigs, through which 

 the eggs can readily be seen, put carelessly together 

 seemingly without form and purpose. Yet if we examine 

 this rude cradle we find it not so poorly made after all, 

 .and then we must bear in mind that the future young 

 will aid considerably in its construction. 



The excrements of birds of the Pigeon tribe are of a 

 peculiar nature and without smell, and these excrements 

 are never removed from the nest, as is the case with the 

 Starling, for instance, but are suffered to remain. They 

 soon harden on being exposed to the air, and, combined 

 with the platform of sticks, form a structure strong and 

 durable for the young birds to inhabit until their pinions 

 can bear them through the air. 



The eggs of the Ring Dove are two in number, in 

 some few rare cases only one, somewhat small for the 

 size of the bird, although they vary considerably in this 

 particular, of a pure shining and spotless white. This 

 bird is a very wary one when sitting, and leaves her 

 charge long before the intruder approaches, doubtless 

 impelled by instinct so to do, for her presence would 

 only contribute to the discovery of the nest, which with- 



