Stock-Dove. 



manlike manner of proceeding, one stick at a time being as much 

 as could be managed to advantage ; but the Pigeon reiterated her 

 " Two, take two !" till Mag, in a violent passion, gave up the task, 

 exclaiming, " I say that one at a time is enough ; and if you think 

 otherwise, you may set about the work yourself, for I will have no 

 more to do with it." Since that time the Wood-Pigeon has built 

 her slight platform of sticks, which certainly suffers much in com- 

 parison with the strong substantial structure of the magpie. There 

 is another legend with regard to this bird in the North Riding of 

 Yorkshire, where it is said that * once upon a time, the Ring-Dove 

 laid its eggs upon the ground, and that the Peewit made its nest 

 on high ; but that one day they agreed to make an exchange of 

 their localities for building. Hence the Peewit may now be heard 

 expressing its disappointment at the new arrangement with the 

 mournful cry 



'Peewit, peewit. 

 I coup'd ray nest, and I rue it.' 



The Wood-Pigeon, however, rejoices that she is safe out of the 

 reach of mischievous boys, and repeats 



' Coo, coo, come now, 

 Little lad, 

 With thy gad 

 Come not thou.'* 



121. STOCK-DOVE (Columba cenas). 



Though by no means a rare bird, this species has been much 

 overlooked by ordinary observers, and confounded with its con- 

 gener last described. It is, however, to be met with in most of 

 our large woods in this county, and may be readily distinguished 

 from the Wood-Pigeon by its smaller size, and by the absence of 

 the distinctive white ring on the neck which has given its name 

 to the Ring-Dove. It derives its specific name cenas from the 

 vinous hue of the plumage of the neck, and Stock-Dove from its 

 habit of building on the pollard head or stock of a tree, hence 

 its German name Holztaube, or 'Wood-Dove;' but where such 

 trees are not to be found, it will content itself with some rabbit- 

 * Dyer's ' English Folk-lore,' p. 93. 



