THE STOCK DOVE. 



or wine-red hue of its breast and wings. Temminck does 

 not hesitate to identify the domestic Pigeon with the Eock 

 Dove, without even hinting the possibility of its having 

 derived its origin from ^he Stock Dove. Since, therefore, 

 the two birds have no marked resemblance, it may be 

 reasonably supposed that the relationship between them 

 rests solely on the narrow foundation that there exists a 

 wild Pigeon, popularly called a Stock Dove, and that the 

 word " stock " has among other meanings that of " paren- 

 tage " or a origin/' Thus the name gave rise to a theory 

 which, having a plausible show, was hastily assumed, and 

 was then employed to prove a fact which will not bear the 

 test of examination. The Stock Dove in its habits closely 

 resembles the Eing Dove, from which it cannot easily be 

 distinguished at a distance. When tolerably near, a sharp 

 eye can detect the absence of the white patch on the wings 

 and of the ring round the neck. Its flight is more rapid, 

 and it rarely perches on a slender bough, preferring to alight 

 on a main branch or stump. Its note is softer, and ap- 

 proaches that of the tame Pigeon. But the great mark of 

 distinction is that on which I have supposed its name to be 

 founded : that it does not build its nest among the branches 

 of trees, but in the side of a stump, or other locality, where 

 no one would even think of looking for a Eing Dove's nest. 

 Yarrell states that, "in the open countries of Norfolk and 

 Suffolk, this species frequently makes its nest in holes in 

 the ground, generally selecting a rabbit's burrow." In 

 Surrey, I am informed, several pairs of Stock Doves an- 

 nually build their nests on the stumps of ivy which cling 

 to the walls of "The Oaks," near Carshalton, and, being 

 never disturbed by the inmates, are comparatively tame 

 during the breeding season. By some writers the Stock 

 Dove is considered to be migratory in its habits, spending 

 the summer with us, and flying southward at the approach 

 of autumn. That it shifts its quarters under certain cir- 

 cumstances is pretty clear. White, who had never seen 



