BRITISH BIRDS. 159 



having on each side a patch of white feathers ; breast 

 suffused with purplish-red ; wing coverts noticeably mar- 

 gined with white. Length 16*00. Young : white feathers 

 of neck absent. 



Common everywhere ; in winter gregarious. Nest : 

 usually in trees and tall hedges ; a slight platform of small 

 sticks. Eggs : 2 ; pure white ; shell oval and glossy ; 

 r6o by 1*20. 



246. Columba cenas (Linn.). STOCK-DOVE. 



Hab. Western Plasarctic region. 



Differs from C. palumbus in lacking patch of white on 

 each side of neck, although the feathers there are richly 

 glossed with metallic green ; there is less purplish-red on 

 breast and no white on wings. Length I3'5o. Young : 

 metallic neck feathers absent in first plumage. 



Locally distributed as far as South Scotland. In Ireland 

 breeds down the eastern side. Eggs : laid in crowns of 

 pollard trees, hollows in trees or cliffs, -or even rabbit- 

 burrows ; creamy-white; 1*50 by no. 



247. Columba livia (Gmel.). ROCK-DOVE. 



Hab. Western Palaearctic region. 



This dove, the progenitor of our domestic pigeons, may 

 be distinguished from the Stock-Dove by the white rump, 

 the two conspicuous black bands crossing wing-coverts and 

 secondaries respectively, and the white (instead of grey) 

 under wing-coverts. 



Found breeding chiefly in caves along the western side 

 of England and all round the coasts of Scotland and 

 Ireland ; also at Flamborough Head on east coast of 

 England. Eggs : whiter than those of C. cenas ; 1*50 by 

 1-15. 



