68 ROCK DOVE. 



difference can be observed, except in size, from 

 Orkney specimens, and the birds seem to have 

 been inhabitants of these rocks as far back as we 

 can trace. On all the rocky shores of the north 

 of Scotland, and the islands Orkney* and Shet- 

 land, | they are common birds, breeding and roost- 

 ing- in the numerous caverns with which the 

 precipices are pierced. 



Its extra European range appears from various 

 authorities to be very extensive. We have not 

 had opportunities of examining specimens from 

 any of the localities mentioned, nor have we ever 

 received it in collections from abroad, but we 

 give beneath the sources of our information. Den- 

 mark, Sweden, Norway, and the Feroe Islands, 

 islands of the Mediterranean as far eastward as 

 Greece, Madeira, J Lake Baikal, Japan, || North 

 of Africa, and the island of Teneriffe. ^f 



The prevailing colours in this species are also 

 shades of blueish-grey, relieved by two broad and 

 distinct dark bars on the wing-coverts and secon- 

 daries running across, and by the lower part of 

 the back being white. The breast and neck are 

 dark lavender purple, with rich purple and green 

 reflections, but without any neck patch. The tail 

 is of a deeper tint, tipped with a broad dark band. 

 The feet and legs purplish-red. 



The principal variations in a domestic or dove- 



* Macgillivray, Low, Salmon. f Mr. Dunn. 



$ Yarrell, Brit. Birds, ii. p. 261. Pennant, Arct. Zool. 



|! Temminck. ^ Selby, Brit, Birds. 



