POULTRY TRIBE. 239 



fine, combining elegance and vigour ; and the 

 colouring of its plumage is also beautiful. Like 

 the pigeons, generally, it has great powers of 

 flight ; in cold weather flying in flocks, sometimes 

 consisting of hundreds, feeding in company during 

 the day, and roosting at night in thick plantations 

 of high trees. They are in considerable estimation 

 as an article of food, and much pains have been 

 taken to domesticate this 'species ; but in vain, 

 the bird will not breed in a domesticated state, 

 nor live in it, unless by force. 



The STOCK DOVE is a smaller species than the 

 ring-dove. It inhabits woods, but is a less nume- 

 rous species ; it is a roaming bird, and migrates 

 in large flocks. Its note is a low rumbling sound, 

 quite unlike the cooing of the preceding one. It 

 builds in the hollows of old trees ; and not imfre- 

 quently makes its nest in holes in the ground ; 

 sometimes selecting a rabbit's burrow for the 

 purpose. 



The ROCK DOVE is the species from which our 

 domestic pigeon, with its numerous varieties, is 

 descended. These birds choose high cliffs and 

 recesses of the rocks to dwell and nestle in, and 

 never perch on trees. They are met with in 

 England ; but are limited to particular parts of 

 the coast, and never come inland. Hambro' 

 Head, and a few similar localities, are their only 



