222 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



sunshine, or quietly dozing upon a sheltered ledge of rock. Upon 

 a nearer approach the cooing of the old birds may be heard, 

 together with the querulous peep-peeping of the young demanding 

 food, and the occasional stir of wings; but, upon any alarm being 

 given, the voices are immediately silenced, the clang and whirr of 

 wings reverberate from the profundity of the cave, and out pours 

 a long stream of snowy bosoms and silver wings, which swiftly 

 skim along the surface of the sea and disappear round the next 

 headland. In lona alone (though but a small island) we have as 

 many as nine or ten caves frequented by pigeons, and in nearly 

 every island of the Hebrides there is sure to be one cave called 

 par excellence ' Ua' Caloman' the pigeon cave. 



"The Rock Dove's nest is made up of small sticks or heather, or 

 dried sea-weed, and is lined with dried grass: the situation selected 

 is any little ledge or cleft within the sheltering bosom of a rocky 

 cavern. The eggs are two in number, generally producing male 

 and female birds. The time for commencing their nestling seems 

 rather variable. This year I found some young ones already 

 hatched on the 2nd of April, while other pairs were only making 

 their nests. They have several broods in the year, and their eggs 

 may be found unhatched as late as September. 



" These birds are easiest shot while feeding abroad in the fields; 

 at the caves a shout will cause them to fly out, but with such sud- 

 denness and swiftness, that it requires something of a Battersea 

 pigeon shooter's knack to succeed in hitting them quick enough; 

 an indifferent shot (after knocking over one or two which may 

 be incautiously napping upon the outer ledges), had better conceal 

 himself either in the cave, or in a good position above it; in a 

 short time a bird is sure to come darting swiftly for its accustomed 

 haunts, but upon catching a glimpse of a lurking foe he stops his 

 rapid career, flutters his pinions for a moment, uncertain what to 

 do; that momentary indecision is fatal down he falls, while a 

 roar of a volcano bellows along the vaulted roof, and the cave is 

 filled with wreaths of sulphureous smoke." 



