COLUMBID^. 249 



land, in 1S57, where the bird vras, \inexpectedly, discovered to be a tree- 

 hreeder, laying its esgs in holes of trees or in the wooden boxes placed by 

 the peasants for birds to nest in. A fall account of this most interesting 

 fact is given by Mr. Dresser (' Birds of Europe,' vi. p. 705, and 

 ' Ibis,' 1859, p. 69, where Mr. Wolley records his discovery). 



Five Smews occurred on Slapton Ley in 1809. A pair, shot on the Warren at 

 Exuiouth, were in the collection of Mr. Comvns, and some had been killed on the 

 Tamar (E. M., Trans. Plyin. Inst. 1830; Mag. S'at. Hist, 1837). A pair shot on the 

 Exe, January 8th, 1838, are now in the A. M. M. (F. W. L. E., MS. Joiirn. i. p. 64). 

 A young male in January 1844 was also shot on the Exe. One at Teignmouth, 

 January 18r>0. One at Plymouth, February 23rd, and another, December 26th, 1853 ; 

 a pair February 2nd, and one March 2.")th, 18.?5 (B., MS. Xotes). One January 18.>4, 

 at Cullompton. One January 26th, 185.5, near Exeter. An adult male was shot on 

 the Laira (J. B. E., Trans. Plym. Inst. 1862-63). A female killed on the Ivintrsbridge 

 estuary in 1 860 is in Mr. H. Nicholls's collection. One at Exmouth, Januarv 24th. 1867 

 (C. S.). A pair were killed on the Dart, January otli, 1871 (J. H. G., Zool. 1871, p. 2631). 

 A female at Xewton Abbot (E. C), Several immature birds occurred at Plymouth, 

 December 19th, 1875 (J. G., Zool. 1876, p. 4785). A female at Slapton Ley, December 

 30th, 187.5 (E. P. N., Zool. 1876, p. 4803). Two immature specimen.s at Plymouth in 

 December 1879, and an adult male seen in Plymouth Sound, March 11th, 1882 (J. G., 

 Zool. 1879, p. 48 ; 1882, p. 457). A female was shot on Slapton Ley in January 1891 

 by Mr. W. V. Toll, and two adult males were seen there by Mr. E. A. S. Elliot. 

 An adult male was shot on January 20th, 1891, by Mr. F. B. Mildmay, M.P.. at the 

 mouth of the Erme. Three adult males and three females were observed on Torcruss 

 Ley by Mr. A. F. Holdsworth, and one of the males was shot by him on February 

 2nd. 1891 (E. P. N.;. An adult male was shot on the Exe estuary early in January 

 1891. 



Order COLUMB.E. 



Family COLUMBID^. 



TPIE PIGEONS, OR DOVES. 



The Pigeons are anomalous both in structure and habits, 

 and the ingenuity of ornithologists has long been exercised 

 to find a suitable place for them in a linear arrangement 

 of birds. It is, however, generally acknowledged that 

 they possess affinity with the Gallina) or Poultry, through 

 the Sand-Grouse, though they offer a marked contrast to 

 that order in being strictly monogamous, the attachment 

 of paired birds to each other being proverbial, whilst the 

 Poultry are mostly polygamous. Moreover, Pigeons lay 

 only two eggs at each sitting, and have several broods 



