The Woodpigeon or Ringdove. 49 



form the partial ring mentioned above. The breast 

 and under side of the neck are purple-red, while the 

 belly and under-tail coverts are ash-grey. The tail 

 feathers are twelve in number, and are of three shades 

 of grey. The beak, legs, and toes are dark pink. 



The feathers are very loosely attached to the skin, 

 a slight blow being sufficient to cause them to fall 

 out. When suddenly disturbed from a bush or thick 

 tree, the Woodpigeon will often lose several feathers, 

 through its contact with twigs as it rushes out. 



This bird builds in trees, and its nest is- 

 quite flat, and usually of the frailest description, 

 being composed of sticks, with sometimes a few fine 

 roots or feathers to do duty for a lining. It delights 

 to build its nest in some plantation where it may be 

 protected from the wind, arid in these sheltered 

 localities it is often so lightly put together that the 

 two white eggs or the young birds may be seen by 

 the passer-by from beneath. 



The nest, however, is often placed in more open 

 situations, and in this case it will be found that it is- 

 more compactly, and much more strongly built than 

 when placed in a sheltered spot. The nest repre- 

 sented in the accompanying engraving is a good 

 example of those found in isolated trees exposed to- 

 the full force of the wind. The nest is placed at a. 

 height varying from six to forty feet from the 



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