THE ROCK-DOVE. 9 



obtained in it." The craw of a specimen on being opened " was 

 found to contain forty-five acorns of various sizes."* 



The Stock-Dove, C. (Enas, is unknown both to Ireland and 

 Scotland. It is said to frequent only the midland and eastern counties 

 of England. 



THE BOCK-DOVE. 

 Rock-pigeon. 



Columba livia, Briss. 



Inhabits the caverns of the rock-bound coasts on all 

 sides of Ireland and the adjacent islets. 



It is likewise to be found at inland caves and grottos, such as 

 are not unfrequent in limestone districts. Some authors describe 

 the sea-coast only, as frequented by the rock-dove, but I can state 

 from personal observation, that caverns situated amid the inland 

 solitude, or close by the perpetual din of the cataract, are resorted 

 to, as well as those which humbly or loftily span the ocean's 

 waves. 



A few inland localities may be mentioned ; as the cliffs at the 

 Knockagh hill near Carrickfergus, and a cave at the base of Carn- 

 lough waterfall, in the county of Antrim ; both, however, withiu 

 about two miles of the sea. A cliff in the Mourne mountains, 

 county of Down, bears the name of pigeon-rock, from the cir- 

 cumstance of these birds having once tenanted it. In the 

 remarkable caves at Cong, county of Mayo, I have observed them, 

 and I have read of their frequenting the celebrated cave at 

 Mitchelstown, at the period of its discovery. 



by the caterpillars, which swarm on the bushes at that time. They generally arrive 

 at their roosting places about twenty minutes before sunset on wet, or as long after 

 on fine afternoons. In fine weather indeed they sometimes remain abroad the whole 

 day. Few birds are more difficult of approach than the ring-dove, either when on 

 their roosts or while feeding, but by waiting for them at their favourite night- 

 haunts one may easily shoot them. I have observed ring-doves in flock as early as 

 June 12 and August 25. They sometimes frequent mown fields: in one or two 

 instances I have seen them alight on houses. I have known their nests to be com- 

 pleted on March 14 and 27, and their incubating as late as October 1, I once found 

 a ring-dove's nest built on a blackbird's of the former year. The digestive canal in 

 this species measures exactly sis feet in length." 

 * Ann. Nat. Hist. July 1849, p. 25. 



