412 RASORES. COLUMBA. ROCK DOVE. 



upwards of twenty,* all of which are highly prized by con- 

 Eggs, noisseurs. The Rock-Dove lays two white eggs, of an oval 



form, and breeds twice or thrice in the year ; but probably 

 Food, oftener in its tame state. It feeds upon all sorts of grain 



and seeds, and, according to MONTAGU, is very fond of the 



different Limaces, particularly of that which inhabits the 



Helix virgata. 



PLATE 56.* Fig. 2. Natural size. 



ctescrY 3 ! Bil1 blackish -brown. Irides pale reddish-orange. Head 

 tion. and throat deep bluish-grey. Sides of the neck, and 



upper part of the breast, dark lavender-purple, glossed 

 with shades of green and of purple-red. Lower part of 

 the breast and belly blue-grey. Upper part of the back 

 and wing-coverts pale pearl-grey. Greater coverts and 

 secondaries barred with black, and forming two broad 

 and distinct bands across the closed wings. Lower part 

 of the back white. Rump and tail-coverts bluish-grey 

 Quills grey at the base, but passing into bluish-grey to- 

 wards their tips. Tail deep bluish-grey, with a broad 

 black bar at the end. Legs pale purplish-red. Wings, 

 when closed, reaching to within half an inch of the end 

 of the tail. 



* Via. The Biset Pigeon, and the Rock, Roman, Rough-footed, Crested, 

 Norway, Barbary, Jacobine, Laced, Turbit, Broad-tailed and Narrow-tailed 

 Shaker, Tumbler, Helmet, Persian, Carrier, Pouter, Horseman, Smiter, 

 Turner, and Spot Pigeons. 



