520 THE PIGEONS 



1884-85 they were quite common. They sometimes flew to roost with 

 the wood-pigeons, and birds of both species were killed out of the 

 same flock, but more often the stock-doves came separately in small 

 parties of six or eight. Similarly it has extended its range into the 

 south-western counties of England and into Wales. In Ireland it 

 was unknown till 1875, but is now resident in parts of Leinster and 

 Ulster, 1 and is gradually increasing its range. In Ireland, as 

 elsewhere, it commonly associates with ring-doves, but always seems 

 to separate from its congeners on taking flight, when, by their smaller 

 size and more rapid wing-beat, they are readily distinguished. 



This gradual extension of range is interesting, and would seem to 

 be due in no small degree to the bird's ability to adapt itself to circum- 

 stances, especially, as we have already pointed out, in the matter of 

 breeding-sites. Yet this interpretation is hardly adequate, since the 

 wood-pigeon, showing less resource, is by far the commoner species. 

 It is significant, indeed, that in no part of its range without the 

 British Islands is it met with in so great abundance as its larger 

 congener the wood-pigeon. 



By the destruction of its enemies, as we have already shown, the 

 wood-pigeons' population has become abnormally high, and hence, 

 from the stress of obtaining sufficient food, a bird at one time regarded 

 with favour by the farmer is now banned as an outlaw. One cannot 

 help speculating as to the future of the stock-dove, which is, as we 

 have shown, also increasing, and may, in consequence, be similarly 

 driven to take an undue toll of the fruits of man's labour, for in the 

 matter of its choice of food it closely resembles the wood-pigeon. But 

 it is significant to note that in the case of a bird of each species, shot 

 at one discharge, the crop of the wood-pigeon contained a great mass 

 of clover, turnip-tops and bulbs, the crop of the stock-dove contained 

 an egg-cupful of charlock seeds, some barley, and several weed seeds, 

 but no clover. 2 The only charge so far levied against the stock-dove 



1 Ussher and Warren, Birds of Ireland, p. 223. 



2 Yarrell, British Birds, vol. vii. p. 8. 



