STOCK-DOVE 261 



Stock-Dove. 



Columba cenas. 



Head, throat, wings, and lower parts bluish grey; the lower 

 parts of the neck with metallic reflections ; breast wine-red ; a black 

 spot on the last two secondaries and some of the wing- coverts ; 

 primaries grey at the base, passing into dusky ; tail grey, barred 

 with black at the extremity, the outer feather with a white spot on 

 the outer web, near the base ; iris reddish brown ; bill yellow, red 

 at the base ; feet red. Length, thirteen and a half inches. 



The stock-dove is a third smaller than the wood-pigeon, and in 

 size, colouring, and appearance when flying, so closely resembles the 

 common pigeon, or rock-dove, as to be often mistaken for it. But 

 it differs from the better-known bird in the uniform blue colour of 

 the back : the rock-dove has a white patch on the rump. It is not 

 so abundant nor so widely diffused as the species last described, 

 being most common in the southern and eastern counties of 

 England ; but it is found in suitable localities throughout England 

 and Wales, and is extending its range in Scotland ; also, in a less 

 degree, in Ireland. In some localities in the south it is so abundant 

 that its low, monotonous, crooning or ' grunting ' voice may be heard 

 all day long in summer like a continuous murmur in the woods. 

 It prefers ancient woods, and breeds in holes in trees and pollard 

 tops, and from this habit it is said to derive its name of stock-dove. 

 It is also an inhabitant of seaside cliffs, like the rock-dove ; and at 

 Flamborough Head, on the Yorkshire coast, both species may be 

 found breeding in the same caverns, and sometimes associating in 

 flocks together. In districts with a sandy soil it nests on the 

 ground in a rabbit -burrow, or under a thick furze-bush. A very 

 slight nest is made of twigs and sticks, and in many cases no nest 

 at all. The eggs are two in number, and of a light cream-colour. 



Rock-Dove. 



Columba livla. 



Bluish ash, lighter on the wings; rump white; neck and 

 breast lustrous, with green and purple reflections ; two transverse 

 black bands on the wing ; primaries and tail tipped with black ; 



