in the nest late in October, and at least once in 
November. 
In general habits and food this bird closely resembles 
the Wood-Pigeon, or, to speak more correctly, the Ring- 
Dove ; but its love-song differs considerably from that 
of its larger congener, consisting of a series of discon- 
nected, though rapidly repeated guttural notes in the 
same key, without the modulations of the well-known 
“Coo 00 coo coo-coo” of the Cushat. I consider the 
Stock-Dove as the most quick-sighted and wary of our 
common birds, the Mallard and Curlew not excepted ; 
any one who has waited for Pigeons coming in to 
roost on a winter evening will, I think, confirm this 
opinion. On the open heaths and commons of our 
eastern counties the Stock-Dove usually nests in rabbit- 
burrows and under closely cropped furze-bushes, and I 
have more than once in those districts seen a bird 
of this species plunge into a hole when closely pressed 
by a Falcon; the latter bird, however, must be at a 
rarely high pitch, and an exceptional flyer, to put any 
real pressure upon the Dove, whose speed and turning 
powers are marvellous. 
On the south coast of Devon I found many pairs of 
this species frequenting the cliffs between Berry Head 
and Dartmouth Harbour, but always in places thickly 
overgrown with ivy, furze, and brambles, never in any 
of the small caves in which we sought in vain for Rock- 
Doves. Even in the well-wooded district of England 
in which our home is situated I have met with two 
nests of the Stock-Dove on the ground, in one instance 
the nest being placed close to the entrance of an old 
