115 



ROCK DOVE. 



ROCKIER. 

 PLATE CXXXV. FIG. I. 



Columba livia, SELBT. JEXTNS. GOULD. 



THESE birds build in companies, many often in the same cavern. 

 The nest is composed of sticks and dry stalks, and blades of grass 

 and other plants, laid together without much care. The bed is fresh 

 made without much trouble for a new brood as soon as the former 

 has been sent at large. The first eggs are laid about or towards 

 the middle of April, and the latest the latter end of August; the 

 young are seen about the end of September. 



The eggs are white, and two in number; while the hen is sitting, the 

 cock bird feeds her, and even at other times she will often take 

 a morsel from his mouth: at night he remains close to the nest. 

 The young birds are fledged in about three weeks, and after a few 

 days education by their parents, go their ways to provide for them- 

 selves. 



