38 Spring 



the sea, while a crescent of mountains half-shuts the 

 landscape in. Here in the season you may always 

 count on finding a stock-dove's nest in the rough grass 

 on the brae-side under a whin -bush ; but he prefers 

 better hiding than bare earth and a shrub will give, 

 and he will take advantage of any cleft or excavation 

 in the rocks, frequently choosing (like the jackdaw) a 

 disused rabbit-hole, into which he penetrates about an 

 arm's length. Many people think his preference is 

 for timber, and that he only takes to the ground in 

 default of better nesting ; but this I do not believe. 

 There are trees all over the district already referred to ; 

 ashes and elms in the hedgerows, oaks and beeches 

 singly or in clumps on every windy knoll and waste 

 corner, limes and plane-trees and chestnuts in the parks, 

 strips, plantations and spinneys everywhere, phea- 

 sant covers where the young firs are tall enough for 

 cushat, innumerable old woods and a river-side forest. 

 And yet the stock-dove chooses the ground to nest 

 on ; apparently from a freak as unintelligible as that 

 which will sometimes, even in close proximity to cre- 

 viced tree or ruin, cause the jackdaw to forsake both 

 for a rabbit-hole. 



When the eggs are found it is seen that they do 

 not materially differ from those of the wood-pigeon. 

 As is the way of doves there are only two, which seems 

 to show how strong among wild birds is convention. 

 There seems no reason in the nature of things why 

 two should be the limit. If the eggs are taken early 



