37 Wild Life in Wales 



pigeon. If it be conceded that the attack were delivered 

 upon a bird already somewhat weaned by a long journey, 

 the odds would, of course, be still further increased in the 

 Raven's favour. 



But the always fascinating subject of falcons has led me 

 quite astray from the Stock Dove. As already stated, it is 

 not rare about Llanuwchllyn ; but like the majority of birds, 

 it is never so common there in winter as during the summer 

 months. I think the Stock Doves chiefly arrive early in 

 March, and depart in October. Those which remain come 

 greedily to the pheasant feeds, and they are much more 

 frequently taken than Wood-Pigeons in the wire runs made 

 for catching hen pheasants in the coverts. Although quite 

 as shy of approach as their larger relatives, they always seem 

 to be less suspicious of traps, a peculiarity which I have 

 noticed in other districts than that under consideration. 

 Like its congeners, the Stock Dove is very fond of both 

 beech mast and acorns, and in spring devours a considerable 

 number of the expanding buds of chestnuts and other trees. 

 As the quantity of buds plucked, and allowed to fall to the 

 ground, seems always to be much in excess of those actually 

 swallowed, the damage to the trees is proportionately large. 

 A Stock Dove killed by the keeper near Glan Llyn, on 2Oth 

 December, when there were a number coming in to roost, 

 had its crop filled with haws, mingled with a few clover 

 leaves. Most of the Wood-Pigeons killed about the same 

 time had their crops likewise chiefly filled with haws, some 

 of them, however, having more clover, and one or two a 

 little grain. 



In the south of England, the majority of Stock Doves 

 seem to nest in hollow trees ; in the north, and in Scotland 

 generally, the more favoured site is on a clifF; on the face 

 of a quarry (not always a disused one) ; or in a rabbit-hole 

 on a more or less steep bank. Ivy-covered castle walls, or 

 the ruins of old buildings, are also often resorted to ; while 

 I have frequently seen nests upon the " wall-head," in such 

 buildings as cattle-sheds, particularly where these were 

 situated in little-frequented places, or on the borders of a 

 wood. In these sort of situations there may sometimes be 



