COLUMB&. ( 145 ) COLUMBTD^E. 



THE ROCK DOVE. 



WILD PIGEON, ROCK PIGEON, WILD DOVE, DOO. 



Columba livid. 



The Dow, with whistling wings sa blew, 



The winds can fast collect ; 

 Her purpour pennes turnes merry hew, 



Agains the sunne direct. 

 ALEXANDER HUME, Thanks for a Summer Day, 1575-1590. 



THIS interesting bird is found in considerable numbers in 

 the caves which occur in several parts of the precipitous 

 rocks on the sea-coast of the county, from Lamberton to 

 Cockburnspath, and appears to be most abundant in the 

 neighbourhood of St. Abb's Head. 1 



Proceeding along the sea-coast from Lamberton, and 

 passing Burnmouth, we find in the neighbourhood of Fair- 

 neyside and Gunsgreen the " Dow Cave," so called on 

 account of its having been long frequented by Pigeons 

 Leaving Eyemouth and the little fishing village of Cold- 

 ingham Shore behind, we next come to a cavern at Kirk- 

 heugh, 2 where, as well as at the Caulderon or Piper's Cove, 

 a short distance to the north, dwells a colony of Rock Doves. 

 The Lighthouse is now reached, and we have before us the 



1 There are some Pigeons of various colours, such as sandy and white, which 

 inhabit the caves frequented by the Rock Doves. The former are evidently either 

 domestic Pigeons which have deserted their dovecot or have been bred from these. 

 It may be conjectured that the majority of the blue Pigeons in the caverns are the 

 descendants of the wild Rock Dove, which has inhabited the precipitous coast of 

 Berwickshire from time immemorial. 



2 So named from its proximity to the site of the ancient kirk of St. Abb's, of 

 which very little now remains. 



VOL. II. K 



