Oi' jS'OKXHrMBEKLAKD AKD DTJKHAM. 85 



newspaper of 1873, that this species had made its appearance in 

 the neighbourhood of Hexham. 



Thi'ough the kindness of the Right Honourable the Earl of 

 Ravensworth, I am enabled to record the appearance of the Stock 

 DoTC at Eayensworth, and the following account is from a letter 

 received from his lordship March 20th, 1874, " I have seen a pair 

 (of Stock Doves) within a few days frequenting the old trees in 

 front of the Castle, and others have been seen likewise. JS^one 

 of our aiithors upon ]N"atural History mention this "Wild Pigeon 

 as a visitant to the northern counties. Selby, the best author 

 and most accurate observer, says, ' that he has never been able 

 to trace it in any of the northern parts of the island.' I^or have 

 I ever before seen the Stock Dove in these woods which are fi-e- 

 quented by innumerable flocks of the Cushat. The pair recently 

 observed by me came very near to the walls of the Castle, and I 

 had the opportunity of seeing them more than once perching on 

 the trees at a very short distance." 



This interesting species will now probably become a resident 

 in the district. The advance of the Stock Dove northward is 

 probably owing to the same cause that has permitted the increase 

 of its congener, the Ring Dove, namely, the destruction of the 

 birds of prey, and is therefore another proof of man's disturbing 

 influence. 



3. Rock Dove. C. livia, Brisson. 



Cohimla livia, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 318. 

 „ Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, IL, 288. 



This is a resident, and is undoubtedly the true Stock Dove 

 from which the domestic Pigeon is derived. A few birds breed 

 occasionally in the cliffs at Marsden, and in other localities on 

 the sea coast, both in Northumberland and Durham, where the 

 cliffs are high. But so like is this species to the common domes- 

 tic Pigeon, that it is difficult to say positively whether they are 

 escaped birds or are really the wild form. I have, however, in 

 my collection a young individual, that was killed in December, 



