176 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



Though a weak and defenceless bird^ it is very tenacious of 

 its abode^ repelling any attack on it with a loud, snake-like 

 hissing, and from this, and from the contortions of its neck, it 

 has acquired the further title of the " Snake-bird." Its flight 

 is not undulating, but straight, like that of the Finches. 

 Although the feet are formed like those of the Woodpecker, 

 it is seldom seen to climb, and the feathers of the tail are 

 soft and flexible. 



COLUMB-ffi. 



COLUMBIDiE. 



RING-DOVE. 



Columha palumbus. 



The Ring-Dove is generally known as the Wood-Pigeon, and 

 is very common, and strictly monogamous. It inhabits the 

 woods, but in the breeding-season often comes into gardens, 

 and is then very tame, walking about on lawns close to 

 houses. One has often come within a few feet of me when 

 I have been sitting perfectly quiet, though at other times it 

 is very wild, watchful, and difficult to get a shot at. It 

 builds a mere platform of small sticks, so slightly put together 

 that the eggs may sometimes be seen from below. 



It breeds very early, and very late. I have shot young- 

 birds in October that could merely fly from tree to tree. 

 The usual site of the nest is in thick ivy on the trunk of a 

 tree, but I have in two instances observed it in ivy against a 

 house. It often nests in a thick fir, particularly spruce. 



The note is well described in YarrelPs ' British Birds ' by 



