THE RING-DOVE AND STOCK-DOVE 233 



though differing in size and plumage, are so 

 frequently confounded with each other by those 

 who are not well acquainted with them, that I 

 think it may be as well to explain how they may 

 readily be distinguished. 



The ring-dove takes its name from the ring 

 of white feathers which nearly surrounds its neck, 

 and when the wings are expanded in flight the 

 white on its wing-coverts is very apparent. The 

 stock-dove is not only considerably the smaller 

 bird of the two, but has no white in its plumage. 

 The necks of both birds are remarkable for the 

 exquisite metallic bronze - green colour of the 

 feathers. The ring - dove generally prefers to 

 make its nest in trees. The stock-dove seems 

 to select various kinds of nesting-places, one time 

 in an old ivy bush, at another, and by no means 

 infrequently, in a rabbit-hole, or it may be in the 

 stump of a tree. Its flight is also more rapid 

 than that of the ring-dove. Our various breeds 

 of tame pigeons are all said to derive their origin 

 from the stock-dove, and it has been stated that 

 its name has been given to it from this fact. 

 As is well known, many of our commoner tame 

 pigeons singularly resemble the stock - dove. 

 It may not, however, have been as generally 

 observed that, even in some of the pure white 

 varieties, the iridescent colours which add so much 

 to the beauty of those resembling the stock-dove 

 are, under certain conditions of light, discernible. 

 For many years past I have kept a considerable 



