360 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



These birds arrive about the beginning of May, and 

 remain with us generally till the middle of September, 

 both young and old being frequently shot at the com- 

 mencement of the partridge season, and the great 

 partiality of this species for salt, whether in a wild 

 state or in confinement, accounts, probably, in some 

 degree, for their abundance in the vicinity of the 

 coast. In two or three instances to my knowledge, 

 this species has bred in confinement, in this county, 

 with the ring-necked domestic dove (Columba risoria). 

 Mr. Lovick, of Thorpe, near Norwich, in the spring of 

 1858, succeeded in rearing some young birds of this 

 hybrid race, which, as will be seen by the following 

 description of a stuffed specimen in the possession 

 of Mr. Longe, of Spixworth Park, presented many of 

 the characteristics of both parents : Head, neck (all 

 round), breast, and under parts, as far as the legs, deep 

 rosy pink; vent, and under tail coverts, white. On 

 either side of the neck a patch of deep black ; each row 

 of feathers broadly edged with white. Back, scapulars, 

 and greater wing coverts, rich buff colour, without 

 any markings, but becoming slightly greyish in the 

 centre of each feather. Primaries, blackish brown; 

 secondaries, bluish grey. The lower half of the two 

 outer tail feathers, with the external web, pure white, 

 the remaining portion black ; two centre feathers 

 buffy-grey, and the remainder black, more or less 

 broadly edged with white. The same pair again hatched, 

 and brought off one young one in the following year. 

 These cross-bred birds, however, are not very uncom- 

 mon ; two or three other examples I have seen resemble, 

 in general appearance, Mr. Longe's specimen, though 

 varying slightly in plumage. 



