CHAP, xv.] TURTLE-DOVES. 



wild plants, thereby saving the farmers an infinity of trouble in 

 weeding and cleaning their lands. The wood-pigeons breed here 

 in great numbers, the large fir-woods and ivy-covered banks of 

 the river affording them plenty of shelter. Their greatest enemy 

 in the breeding-season is the hooded crow, who is constantly 

 searching for their eggs, and from their white colour, and the 

 simplicity of the nest, he can distinguish them at a great distance 

 off. The sparrowhawk, too, frequently carries off the young 

 birds, when nearly ready to fly, taking them out of the nest. It 

 is a curious fact, but one I have very often observed, that this 

 hawk, though I have seen him in the vicinity of the wood-pigeon's 

 nest, and have no doubt that he has known of the young birds in 

 it, never carries them off till they have attained to a good size, 

 watching their daily growth till he thinks them fit to be killed. 



In game-preserves wood -pigeons are certainly of some use, 

 both in affording to vermin a more conspicuous and more favourite 

 food than even partridge or pheasant, and in taking the attention 

 of the larger hawks from the game. But he also does good 

 service in giving notice of the approach of any danger, loudly 

 flapping his wings as he flies off the trees on the first alarm. 

 And at night no bird is so watchful. I have frequently attempted 

 to approach the trees where the wood-pigeons were roosting ; but 

 even in the darkest nights these birds would take the alarm, 

 affording in this respect a great contrast to the pheasant. The 

 poor wood-pigeon has no defence against its enemies excepting 

 its watchful and never-sleeping timidity, not being able to do 

 battle against even the smallest of its numerous persecutors. 



Though the turtle-dove never breeds here, and is supposed 

 never to visit this part of the country, I have twice seen a pair 

 about my house, both times towards the fcnd of autumn. Last 

 year a pair remained for about three weeks here, from the middle 

 of October to the beginning of November, when they disap- 

 peared ; probably returning southwards, not being nearly so 

 hardy a bird as the wood -pigeon. Besides the wood-pigeon, we 

 have considerable numbers of the little blue rock-pigeon, breeding 

 along the caves and rocks of the coast, and feeding inland in 

 large flocks. On the opposite coast of Ross-shire and Cromarty, 

 very urrat numbers are found during the whole year. The caves 

 there are much more extensive, and the rocks less easy of access, 



