260 COLUMIilDE, 



Tlic Rock Dove, as its name implies, is a species which in 

 its natural and "wild state inhabits high rocks near the sea- 

 coast, in the cavities of which it lives the greater part of the 

 year, only venturing during summer as far inland as may be 

 necessary to visit the nearest cornfields, or other places, from 

 which it can obtain its food. The Rock Dove, as a species 

 distinct from the Stock Dove, was called Cohimha Iivia, on 

 account of its lighter or more livid blue colour ; the pure 

 white on the lower part of the back ; the two conspicuous 

 black bars across the wings ; the voice, in conjunction with 

 the habits, so opposite to those of the Stock Dove, are suf- 

 ficient proofs of distinction, and accordingly the Rock Dove 

 is not only admitted as a good species, but from several other 

 circumstances there appears to be no reason to doubt that the 

 Rock Dove is also the species from which our Domestic 

 Pigeons were originally derived. 



This bird has a very extensive geographical range, being 

 found as far north as the Faroe Islands, and southward at 

 Teneriffe, Madeira, over North Africa, inhabiting most of 

 the rocky islands in the Mediterranean, and eastwards as far 

 as Greece. In our own country it is not only found on some 

 of the high cliffs of our southern coast, but according to Sir 

 William Jardine and Mr. Selby, it is found in various parts 

 both of the east and west coasts of Scotland. The specimen 

 from which the figure here engraved was taken, was given me 

 by John Malcolm, Esq. who brought it, with some others, 

 from Scotland. Mr. Macgillivray has recorded that he found 

 it in quantities inhabiting the rocks and promontories of the 

 Hebrides. The Rev. Mr. Low and Mr. Salmon include it 

 among the birds of Orkney, where, the latter gentleman ob- 

 serves that it is very numerous, breeding in the crevices of 

 the rocks, but the nests are placed at such a depth that it is 

 impossible to reach them. Mr. Dunn says there are consi- 

 derable numbei's in the Shetland Isles, where they breed in 



