128 ROCK DOVE. 



ROCK DOVE 



ROCKIER. 



PLATE CXXXV. FIGURE I. 

 Columba livia, SELBY. JENYNS. GOULD. 



rilHESE birds build in companies, many often in 

 J- the same cavern. The nest is composed of sticks 

 and dry stalks, with 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 

 bill: 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 themselves. 



