56 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



white, and during flight form a conspicuous patch, 

 by which the bird may easily be distinguished 

 from any other member of the pigeon family. Quills 

 dark grey edged with white ; the feathers of the 

 spurious wing are almost black. Tail-quills of 

 varying shades of grey, darkest towards the tip. 

 Chin bluish-grey ; neck and breast glossy purple 

 and green : belly and under-parts light ash-grey. 

 Legs and toes red ; claws brown. 



The female is somewhat duller in plumage and 

 smaller in size. 



Situation and Locality. In fir, yew, whitethorn, 

 and various other kinds of trees. I have met with 

 it on the crown of a pollard, and frequently on the 

 ivy-clad trunk of a tree, growing almost at right 

 angles from high rocks and precipices. I have 

 also met with it upon several occasions in an 

 isolated thorn bush growing in the middle of a 

 large field. Our picture is from a photograph, to 

 obtain which it was necessary to tie the camera 

 into a high tree. The nest is situated at a height 

 of from five to seventy or eighty feet, and is 

 found all over the United Kingdom where suitable 

 woodland is to be met with. 



Materials. Dead twigs and sticks woven into 

 a loose platform. The nest is often such a poor, 

 flimsy affair that the eggs may be seen through it 

 from beneath, and it is frequently blown down by 

 gales of wind. On the other hand, I have on one 

 or two occasions met with nests of a substantial 

 character, into which bits of dried sods had been 

 introduced, so that not even a ray of light could 

 find its way through. 



Eggs. Two. White and glossy, similar to those 

 of the Rock Dove, but larger. Average size about 

 1-65 by 1-25 in. 



