42 BRITISH BIRDS 



The Rock Pigeon is supposed to pair for life, and as 

 a rule probably does so ; but as conjugal infidelity and 

 divorce, or at least separation, are by no means unknown 

 among its domesticated descendants, it may be that the 

 union is not always as permanent a one as has been 

 imagined. 



A good deal of romance has grown up round the 

 fidelity, constancy, or what not of Doves in general, but it 

 has not nearly such a foundation in fact as some persons 

 think. Macgillivray, for instance, waxes most poetical 

 over the untimely fate of one of these birds which he had 

 brought up, but the fact remains that they are exceedingly 

 pugnacious, and will fight among themselves even to the 

 bitter end. 



The flight of the Rock Pigeon resembles that of the 

 domestic breeds, even to an occasional "tumble" when 

 on the wing, and differs greatly from that of the Ringdove 

 and Stock Dove, which is much more direct. Where they 

 exist in large numbers they are certainly capable of 

 devouring a large quantity of grain, for the crop of a full- 

 grown bird will contain half a pint of seed : but where are 

 they so numerous? They also eat a good deal of green 

 vegetable food, are particularly fond of charlock seed, 

 and pick up quantities of small snails, as their domesticated 

 descendants are in the habit of doing. 



While the Ringdove is about 18 inches in length and 

 averages about 20 ounces in weight, and the Stock Dove 

 measures 14 inches, the Rock Pigeon is only 12 or 13 inches 

 in length and weighs but 1 1 ounces or thereabouts. 



The female differs very little from the male, but the 

 metallic tinting of her neck and breast feathers is less 

 brilliant than in the case of her mate; her neck is also 

 thinner, and the terminal spot in the tail feathers has a 

 brownish tinge. 



The feathers of all Pigeons come off very easily, but 

 those of the present species are even more readily detached 

 than any of the others, and will fall out in handfuls, so 

 to speak, at the slightest touch; but the loss is quickly 

 made good, for they grow again with marvellous rapidity 

 at any season of the year. 



