PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 



ivo. ,,. -..-. in d also p. 275; /4*nok o/ NrottwA A'o/wro/ //Mtory, 1901, p. 236), 

 while in towns it has nested on a window ledge (see Field, 7th May 1904). Material 

 for building is contributed by both sexes according to Naumann, but the work of 

 construction is performed by the hen. The eggs MB generally two only, but 



ImtSJMSi "I ilin-.' in .1 HIM .nc n . .1-1. .11. illy r.TMi<l<-<l. \\hil- tin- t.m- mM.uiro in 



which four eggs have been found in a nest probably represent the first and second 

 layings of one hen, or the produce of a second bird when the first has been killed 

 (see Zoologist, 1889, p. 436 ; British Bird*, iv. pp. 165 and 316). They are a pure 

 white, with no trace of cream, and are decidedly glossy. Saunders states that they 

 are laid at intervals of two or three days. Average size of 40 eggs, 1*68 x M5 in. 

 [40'8 x 29'3 mm.]. Incubation is shared by the sexes, and lasts about 17 days, the 

 male as a rule sitting in the daytime, according to Saunders. Breeding generally 

 begins about the first week of April, but nests have been recorded even in January 

 and February (Zoologist, 1874, p. 3998), as well as March ; and as fresh eggs may 

 be found till October and even early in November, it is obvious that two or three 

 broods are often reared in a season. [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Grain, peas, beechmast, acorns, hazel-nuts, berries, leaves of 

 clover, turnips, etc. [w. p. P.] 



6. Song: Period. The cooing notes are heard " occasionally in January and 

 February, and regularly from March to the beginning of October" (British Birds, 

 iv. 276. C. J. and H. G. Alexander), [w. p. p.] 



STOCK-DOVE [Columba aenas Linnaeus. Blue-rock, sand-, or hill-pigeon, 

 culver. French, colombe ; German, Hohliaubf ; Italian, eolumbaccw}.\\ 



I. Description. The stock-dove is readily distinguished from its congeners, 

 having no white in the plumage, and two imperfect black bars across the wing 

 (PI. 91.) Length 13$ in. [342-90 mm.]. The sexes are alike. The upper part* are 

 of a darker hue than in the rock-dove, the head, neck, scapulars and interacapulara 

 being of a light slate-grey, the wing-coverts paler, and the rump pale bluish grey. 

 On the side of the neck is a patch of iridescent, metallic green, with purplish red 

 reflections. The innermost major coverts have a black spot partially overlapped 

 by the median coverts, and the innermost secondaries have similar patches of black. 

 The primaries are of a dark slate-grey with a whitish line along the fore edge of 

 the outer web. The tail is light grey shading into black over the terminal portion. 

 The throat, fore-neck, and breast have a vinous hue, the rest of the under parts are 



