178 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



iu frout of the liuuse at Oakeudeau^ iu the same parish, as well 

 as in holes iu the elms of the rookery there, and in some ash 

 pollards near the house. Its food is similar to that of the Ring- 

 Dove. Gilbert White says that it is particularly partial to 

 barley. 



Mr. Booth, in his ' Kough Notes/ states that he found 

 young Stock-Doves in a SquirreFs drey, in Balcombe Forest, 

 and that they resort to rabbit burrows in the slopes of the 

 South Downs, and to holes in the face of the chalk pits of 

 Beeding and Off ham. Mr. Jeffery, in his P. N., says that 

 it breeds in Stoke Park, and in the old yew trees at Kingly 

 Vale. 



It is of late years much more diffused over the county than 

 formerly, assembling iu large flocks iu the winter. It does 

 not coo, but utters a prolonged rumbling sound. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, in Transactions of the Norfolk and 

 Norwich Natui'alists' Society, vol. iii. p. 172, says: — "The 

 Stock-Dove breeds in the cliffs of Faii'light. I was sure of 

 this in 1879, having frequently seen Pigeons fly out of the 

 cliffs, but could never be certain if they were Stock-Doves 

 or Tame Pigeons ; but this year I saw them near enough to 

 be quite certain about them, and should say that there were 

 three or four pair nesting between the Glen of Ecclesbourne 

 and the Glen of Fairlight. At Hurstmonceaux Castle, where 

 they also breed, and where there is a large garden, I am told 

 they do great harm to the young cabbages. ^^ 



EOCK-DOVE. 



Columha livia. 



I DOUBT whether the Rock-Dove ever breeds in Sussex, the 

 deep caves agreeable to its habits not existing in our cliffs. 



