58 Forest Birds. 



species from which our domestic pigeons are 

 derived. It differs but slightly from the Stock 

 Dove in size and colouring, but in its habits it 

 is widely dissimilar. The rock pigeon is an 

 inhabitant of wild rocky coasts, building in caves 

 and cliffs, very often in large companies. These 

 birds never settle on a tree, and the fact that 

 domestic pigeons will never do so of their own 

 accord, goes far to prove that they have sprung 

 from the rock pigeon and not from the Stock Dove, 

 whose home is in the trees. Again, when domestic 

 pigeons are let loose, and gradually " hark back " to 

 nature, they invariably resort to cliffs or stone 

 buildings, and breed in companies, whereas had 

 they sprung from the Stock Dove, they would build 

 in trees and go in pairs. Although we have said 

 that the rock pigeon and Stock Dove are very 

 similar in plumage, there is one striking mark on 

 the rock pigeon a white patch of feathers on the 

 back just above the tail, which is peculiar to this 

 bird alone, thus distinguishing it from other wild 

 pigeons found in this country. When we examine 

 the common sorts of domestic pigeons, and especially 

 those to be found in the neighbourhood of all our 

 great buildings in London, which have gradually 

 regained almost their natural state, we see at once 

 that the majority of them possess this white patch 



