238 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



common bird is the Rock Dove. Whether this 

 white-rumped Dove is the truly feral Rock Dove, 

 or whether they are descendants of tame birds run 

 wild, it is perhaps difficult now to say; but our own 

 opinion leans to the latter view, because we believe 

 that the true wild Rock Dove is found nowhere but 

 on maritime cliffs. Whatever their origin, however, 

 here the birds are now, and wild enough. Their 

 abundance is reflected in the names that they have 

 inspired for " Dove " river, and " Dove" dale, both 

 of them famous haunts of these birds. They nest 

 in crevices of the limestone crags, and their habits 

 generally are very similar to those of their relatives 

 along the coast, which they also resemble closely in 

 appearance. Another, yet much smaller colony of 

 these Doves, is to be found in the range of crags 

 that crest the right-hand side of the Rivelin Valley 

 going westwards, close to the Norfolk Arms at 

 Hollow Meadows. We can state from long personal 

 observation, confirmed by keepers and others, that 

 these birds arrive at this place in February, and 

 after rearing several broods during the spring and 

 summer and early autumn, that they leave in Octo- 

 ber. We have seen these birds perch upon a nar- 

 row rail fence on the edge of the crags they frequent. 

 Vast numbers of Starlings also build in these places 

 up and down the Peak and elsewhere. Another 

 very common species is the House Martin. There 



