66 ROCK DOVE. 



WHITE-RUMPED PIGEON OR ROCK DOVE, Co- 

 LUMBA LIVIA, Linn. Columbe biset, Temm. White- 

 rumped Pigeon, Rock Dove of British authors. 

 It is to this species that all our most accurate 

 ornithologists refer the domestic races of pig-eons. 

 Those of the dove-cots of Britain are undoubtedly 

 referable to it; but it may be, that the more mark- 

 ed varieties have some additional cross. It is this 

 bird also which has furnished those so celebrated 

 in story as the messengers of politics, commerce, 

 or of love ; and it is the " blue rock " which sup- 

 plies the traps for the modern pigeon-shooter. 



In habits, the Rock Pigeon is very similar to 

 those we have already described, only that rocks 

 and gloomy caves 011 the sea coast, supply the 

 place of hollow trees and the umbrageous forest. 

 In winter they assemble in flocks, and feed on 

 the various grains or seeds which their vicinity 

 may supply, but they rarely venture to any dis- 

 tance from the shore; in addition, the animals of 

 our land molusca, particularly Helices, seem to be 

 frequently devoured. In a wild state, and when 

 in health, we believe they never perch on trees, 

 which are indeed very seldom present near their 

 haunts ; but we can corroborate the facts stated 

 by Mr. Eyton, of the inmates of our pigeon houses 

 frequently perching, when the cot happens to be 

 built near or amidst old trees, particularly such 

 as have bare branches ; and, in one instance, we 

 have seen a tree nearly dead and leafless, always 



