fly round a field before alighting on it. They are not known to perch on trees, 

 but generally alight either on the bare ground or on rocks. 



The food of the Rock Dove is nearly the same as that of its congeners. 

 It devours large quantities of grain, but compensates for this by the enormous 

 quantities of the seeds of injurious weeds which it eats. In summer it varies 

 its fare with the tender shoots of various plants and with tiny land-shells, and, 

 like most Pigeons, is seen to drink frequently. 



The Rock Dove is most probably paired for life, and returns year after year 

 to the same cave, nesting in one particular spot if not disturbed. A few birds 

 nest in crevices in the cliff face, but most Rock Doves resort to the dark caves 

 for breeding purposes. High up in the roof of the cave, on some convenient 

 ledge, the nest is built, often where the light of day never penetrates, and the 

 young are lulled to sleep by the boom of the waves as they roar and dash 

 madly into the mouth of the cave. The nest is a very slight, flat structure, 

 consisting of a little dry grass and seaweed, and a few bits of heather and 

 small sticks. Sometimes three or four nests are built close together on the 

 same ledge ; they are rarely placed within reach of the hand without climbing. 

 The Rock Dove is a very early breeder, or rather it begins to breed very 

 early, as three, and even four, broods are reared in the year. Eggs may be 

 found from the middle of March till late in August or early in September; 

 most eggs are to be found during April and May. In the same cave, and often 

 on the same ledge, some nests may be found containing eggs perfectly fresh, 

 others highly incubated eggs, and many containing young birds in various stages 

 of growth. The female performs the greater share of incubating the eggs, 

 though the male occasionally assists her. The young have voracious appetites, 

 and when they are hatched the powers of the old birds are taxed to the uttermost 

 to supply them with food. Like most Pigeons, the Rock Doves eject the semi- 

 digested food from their crops, the young ones eating from the open mouth 

 of their parents. The young advance somewhat slowly to maturity, and remain 

 in the nest, or on the ledge, until well able to fly. 



The Rock Dove only lays two eggs, which are somewhat rounder in shape 

 than those of the Ring Dove ; they are also smaller, and have a creamy tint 

 which the eggs of the Ring Dove do not possess. They vary from i -49 to i -37 

 inch in length, and from r2o to TOQ inch in breadth. 



It is not probable that the Rock Dove is a migratory bird, but in winter it 

 frequently wanders far from its usual haunts, often in enormous flocks. 



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