146 cassell's book of birds. 



THE STOCK DOVE. 



The Stock Dove {Columba a'/ias) is of a deep blue upon the head, throat, upper wings, lower 

 part of back, and rump ; the upper portion of the back is deep greyish blue, the region of the crop 

 rich deep red; the rest of the under side pale blue. The quills and ends of the tail-feathers are 

 slate-blue, the wing is decorated with a dark band, and the neck enlivened by the metallic lustre 

 common to the race of Pigeons. The eye is deep brown, the beak pale yellow, with dark flesh-pink 

 base, powdered with white, and the foot pale red. The young resemble the parent birds, but are 

 duller in their colours. The length of this species is from twelve inches to twelve and a half, and its 

 breadth from twenty-five to twenty-six inches ; the wing measures eight inches and a half and the tail 

 five inches. 



Many authors have regarded this as the same species as the Rock Dove, or as having but trifling 

 differences. Yarrell, however, considers them to be perfectly distinct, both as to habits, voice, 

 plumage, and the localities which they frequent. "The Stock Dove," says this accurate author, 

 " was called ca/ias * on account of the vinous claret-colour of the plumage of the neck ; and Stock 

 Dove, not because it was by some considered to be the origin of our domestic stock, but because it 

 builds in the stocks of trees, particularly such as have been headed down, and have become in 

 consequence rugged and bushy at the top." Iii more open parts of the country, holes in the ground 

 are selected as breeding-places, especially the burrows of rabbits. When the warreners find the 

 young in a burrow, they fix sticks at the mouth of the hole in such a manner as to prevent the escape 

 of the young, but so as to allow the old birds to feed them. Bishop Stanley refers to this bird's habit 

 of building in holes as illustrative of a passage jn Scripture, He says ; " In the Eastern countries 

 and the Holy Land, the Wild Pigeons almost invariably prefer such situations to trees, thus con- 

 firming the words of the prophet, who speaks of the 'dove that njaketh her nest in the sides of the 

 hole's mouth' (Jer. xlviii. 28)." 



When the eggs are laid in this manner in deserted burrows, they are either placed on the bare 

 sand or upon a few dried roots, about a yard within the entrance. The Stock Dove also nestles 

 under furze bushes, or in the holes of decayed trees. The eggs are two in number, oval and white, 

 and are laid about the end of March or beginning of April, The food of the Stock Dove is similar to 

 that of the last-mentioned species. 



The Columba anas has not been found in Scotland. On the continent of Europe it is abundant, 

 visiting the central and northern parts during the summer, and it has been seen in Northern Africa. 

 It is also said to be met with in the Deccan. The harsh and somewhat grunting note of this species 

 is usually uttered while the bird is perching, and is accompanied by considerable inflation of the 

 throat. When in flight its movements are very rapid and noisy, the wings producing a rushing 

 sound, which gradually becomes shriller and clearer, but altogether subsides when the gently hovering 

 motion commences that precedes alighting. So strong is the love of the Stock Dove for its favourite 

 retreat, that even if repeatedly alarmed it returns immediately to its place. The period of incubation 

 commences early in spring, and, if not disturbed, the female produces three broods in the season, 

 the first eggs being deposited by the beginning of April. During the whole time his mate is thus 

 busily engaged, the male bird testifies the greatest devotion, keeping close to her, and constantly 

 uttering his cooing note. Many are the quarrels that ensue between the various couples at this 

 period, for, as each requires an unused hole in some tree wherein to deposit a brood, the demand is 

 usually greater than the supply, and as these localities are also much resorted to by such formidable 



" CEnas, from oiVos, 'iuine ; a name given to this bird by Ray. 



