ii4 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



The cry is " Cour-li-vee cour-li-vee." This is uttered in flight. On the 

 ground often a shrill note, " Dew-leep." 



Dove, Rock. Is identified by the large white patch on the rump. It also 

 shows white plainly on the coverts of the under wing when in flight. It has 

 a darker blue on the head, neck, and tail. It is scarcely ever found away from 

 the sea cliffs which it frequents, placing its nest on a ledge or in a crevice ; 

 the nest is generally a rough structure of grasses, seaweed, etc., containing 

 two white eggs. It feeds on grain, seeds, and the roots of noxious weeds. It 

 never alights on a tree. From this bird all our domestic pigeons have de- 

 scended, and it still interbreeds with them ; in fact, species shot are often almost 

 identical with the " Blue-rock." 



Dove, Stock. Another of the four species of " pigeon " found in Great 

 Britain. This bird is often confused with the Rock Dove, but it can be distin- 

 guished by the fact that it has no white in the plumage. Otherwise it is a slaty 

 blue bird, with two broken black bars on the wing. It is a resident, not uncom- 

 mon, but somewhat local ; much smaller than the Wood Pigeon. Its food con- 

 sists of grain, with seeds of weeds, acorns, beech mast, etc. Its nest is almost 

 always in a hole whether in tree, building, or ground ; often in a rabbit burrow. 

 Very little material is used ; the eggs (two) are cream-white. 



Duck, Tufted. This bird is at once identified by the pendent crest, as also 

 by the uniform black (male) or brown (female) upper colours. The male has 

 belly and flanks white, but from July to October his plumage is like that of 

 the female. Until 1849 the bird was not known to breed in Britain, but since 

 it has spread to every part. It is a social bird, breeding when it can in colonies. 

 Its harsh note, " Karr, karrkarr," is often heard on our canals and inland waters, 

 especially in winter, when, besides those which are resident, others visit us on 

 migration, and like the Pochard, prefer fresh water to salt. 



The nest is generally close to the water, in a hollow under a bush, and is 

 lined with a few dead leaves or grasses, becoming mixed with down (of a dully 

 dusty brown). The eggs (eight to twelve) are olive-brown, much longer than 

 the normal duck's egg, and are laid quite late in the season from mid-May 

 to June. 



Falcon, Peregrine. The largest of the falcons which breed with us ; haunts 

 moors and cliffs, where its cry of " Kek-kek-kek " may be heard. A resident 

 (specially in the Devonian peninsula). Feeds on puffins and other sea birds, 

 pigeons, rabbits, etc. It is of a slate-blue colour above, buff-white below. 

 It makes its nest almost always on the face of a cliff, a mere scrape or hollow, 

 with no attempt at lining. The eggs (three or four) are whitish, almost entirely 

 hidden by mottles and shades of chestnut and red-brown. 



Godwit, Bar-tailed. Remembering that this is one of the " Dunlins " 

 (which see), a general idea of its figure and shape comes to mind. It does 

 not breed here, but is a winter visitor to our coasts, especially Northumbria. 

 Note its large size (15! inches), the bright brown of the head, neck, and upper 

 parts (only in breeding plumage), the long, upturned beak, the tail white 



