STOCK DOVE. 197 



by the casual observer. It resides locally in England 

 and Wales, but is only accidental in Scotland and 

 Ireland. The Stock Dove and the Ring Dove frequent 

 the same roosting places and often feed in the same 

 field, though possibly on different food, for Atkinson 

 relates that on shooting a specimen of each in the 

 same field, he ascertained holly berries to have been 

 the food of the Ring Dove, whilst the Stock Dove had 

 preferred mustard seed ; but the latter bird may be 

 readily distinguished from the former by its smaller 



STOCK DOVE. 



size, dark-brown extremities of the wings, and entire 

 absence of the white ring round the neck. 



The Stock Dove frequents the open country for the 

 most part, but retires to the woods and forests to 

 breed. Its " coo " is scarcely so soft and melodious 

 as the note of the Ring Dove, but its food is similar. 

 It can be tamed without much difficulty. 



The nest, when one is built, is very slender, consist- 

 ing of a few twigs, and is usually placed in the hole 



