236 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



made to stalk one of these pigeons, the chances 

 are ten to one that it elects to dart off on the far- 

 side of the tree. Where it is necessary to destroy 

 them, the better plan is to wait for them when 

 coming home to roost. Few birds are better 

 eating than a well-fed wood-pigeon at the proper 

 season. 



The stock-dove, though perhaps somewhat less 

 common than the ring-dove, is, nevertheless, pretty 

 generally distributed throughout the length of 

 Great Britain, making its home in the woodlands, 

 and not infrequently in the sea-cliffs, from which 

 circumstance it is often mistaken for the rock-dove, 

 the much-persecuted blue-rock. In size these two 

 birds are similar, nor is their plumage very un- 

 like, though two marked characteristics serve 

 to distinguish the rock-dove, the rump of the 

 latter bird being white and its wings doubly 

 barred with black. The rock- dove, as its name 

 implies, makes its home amongst the rocks 

 and caves on the sea-coast ; those inhabiting this 

 country are found more especially in the Northern 

 parts. 



The turtle-dove is fairly common in our Mid- 

 land and Southern counties. For some years 

 past one or two pairs have bred in my garden. 

 One of these birds was so fearless and tame that 

 it was in the habit of coming down to feed with 

 the poultry, waiting on the bough of a neighbour- 

 ing tree until the evening meal of grain was served 

 out to them. It is the smallest of the British 



