46 THE NESTS OF PIGEONS 



be seen in situ to be really appreciated. 

 Indeed, there would appear to be no limits to 

 the ingenious (the only word) and at the same 

 time aesthetic adaptations whereby nature 

 adjusts herself to the surroundings. 



The most primitive nests are those of the 

 pigeons, themselves of very ancient descent. 

 The ancestors of all the pigeons nested in 

 caves and cavernous rocks, which is stiU the 

 habit of the Rock Dove (Columba livia), from 

 which our domesticated pigeons have sprung, 

 and to a lesser extent the Stock Dove (C. 

 cenas). The latter, however, has taken more 

 to the open, though it still retains the habit of 

 nesting in dark places — Wholes in trees, or on 

 the top of old nests of crows, hawks, squirrels, 

 etc., when overhung and darkened by fir 

 boughs. One more step into the hght and we 

 have the largest British pigeon, the Ring Dove 

 (C. palumbus), which builds the same primitive 

 nest but which is openly exposed — a few 

 sticks loosely spread through which the two 

 white eggs, usually associated with birds who 

 nest in dark places, are visible when looked at 

 from beneath. But though primitive and 

 fragile, the wood-pigeon's nest seems to answer 

 nature's purpose, judging from the enormous 

 flocks seen in many districts after the nesting 

 season. In this case no modification was 



