128 INCREASE AND DISPERSAL OF BIRDS 



The stock dove is now widely spread over 

 all suitable areas of southern and eastern Scot- 

 land, extending well to the north-east, the wave 

 of invasion having been in suddenness and 

 volume quite phenomenal. It is interesting, 

 therefore, to note that a German authority, 

 Friderich, 1 states that it is becoming much less 

 common in Germany, especially in localities 

 where population and traffic have increased. 

 If this is correct it is somewhat remarkable ; 

 for in its extension here it does not appear to 

 exhibit any shyness or dislike to civilisation, 

 having multiplied exceedingly in some of our 

 most highly cultivated and populous districts. 

 Nor can it be said that there is any change in 

 this country to render it more inviting to this 

 bird as a breeding habitat, for it nests by 

 preference in hollow trees, whence its German 

 name ' Hohl-Taube,' and there are not any 

 increasing facilities here of that nature. Where 

 such hollow trees are not forthcoming they nest 

 readily in rabbit-holes or in hollows in rocks, 

 or in thickly-tufted ivy-clumps. They take 

 freely, too, to artificial nesting-boxes specially 

 put up for them. 



The stock dove is readily distinguished from 

 the common wood pigeon, being of slenderer 



1 Naturgeschichte der Deutschen Vogel, 1891. 



