78 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



Is occasionally seen in the low grounds in the carrs 

 in the winter and spring." 



129. COLUMBA LIVIA, Temminck. Rock-Dove. 



Provincial. Sea-Dove, Rock-Pigeon. 



Breeds in considerable numbers in the numerous 

 sea-caves at the base of the magnificent cliffs of Flam- 

 borough. Their great power of flight gives them 

 unusual facilities for daily traversing great distances 

 to and from their haunts ; and in severe winters flocks 

 come far inland in search of food, even crossing the 

 Humber into the Lincolnshire marshes. Mr. Boul- 

 ton, remarking on this species in the East Riding*, 

 says . " In the ( carrs ' flocks of the Rock-Dove may 

 frequently be seen, at times feeding along with 

 wanderers from the neighbouring Cotes, and, I am 

 informed, occasionally returning with the domestic 

 birds to their more genial abodes. A cross be- 

 tween the wild Rock-Dove and common Domestic 

 Pigeon is often met with as the consequence of this 

 intermingling of the races. These birds are fertile 

 inter se, are smaller than the domestic birds, are very 

 hardy, and are endowed with wonderful powers of 

 flight" t- 



* Zoologist for 1865, p. 9595. 



t According to Mr. Wheelwright, " extremely rare in Scan- 

 dinavia, and only known to breed at one place (Stavange) off 

 the south coast of Norway, where they remain throughout the 

 year. Not known in either Denmark or Finland " (Ten Years 

 in Sweden, p. 348). 



