300 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



The egg is plain white, rather larger than that of 

 the Common Pigeon. 



STOCK DOVE, Columba anas. The Stock Dove 

 is by no means a common species in this county; 

 specimens, however, occasionally occur, roosting with 

 Wood Pigeons, and are sometimes shot by mistake. 

 One of my specimens was shot in this way in a small 

 plantation near here : I have also one in the aviaiy 

 which was picked up wounded some years ago: it 

 has lived in my a^ary ever since, somewhat con- 

 tentedly, and is tolerably tame : if I had a male bird 

 I think they would probably breed, as this one is 

 constantly laying eggs and is most indefatigable in 

 sitting on them : it will not, however, pair either 

 with the Turtle Dove or the foreign Ring Dove 

 (Columba risoria). The Stock Dove is resident 

 here throughout the year. Meyer says they are not 

 found in England after November, but that is a mis- 

 take, as the one in my collection was shot in Januar} r , 

 and there are also notices in the 'Zoologist' of their 

 being killed during the winter months, generally 

 mixed up with flocks of Wood Pigeons. 



The food of the present species is much the same 

 as that of the Wood Pigeon, but it is not sufficiently 

 numerous to do any real damage : it consists, accord- 

 ing to Yarrell, of " young leaves, peas, grain, seeds, 

 berries, turnip -leaves, beech-nuts, acorns," c. 



The nest is usually placed in a hole in an old tree, 

 but if that cannot be found a rabbit-hole will be 



