118 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
ROCK DOVE. 
CotumpBa uivia, Bonn. 
Pl. XVIL., fig. 16. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern Scandinavia to N. Africa, eastwards to China 
and Japan: fairly common in suitable localities in Great Britain. 
Food.—Young leaves of vegetables, peas, berries, grain, mast, 
Mollusea 
Nest.—Carelessly constructed of withered grass, sprigs of heather, 
or seaweed. 
Position of nest.—In caverns, crevices, and holes in cliffs and rocks 
upon the coast. 
Number of eggs.—2. 
Time of nidification.—II1-IX ; rarely as late as October. 
This is the original of the domesticated pigeon; it may 
always be recognised in a wild state by its white rump. 
Hewitson says that Rock Doves abound in the Shetland 
Islands, ‘‘ breeding in the numerous spacious caverns, into 
which the sea constantly rushes; they have every appear- 
ance of being tame, and are so easily approached within 
gun-shot, that, until assured of the contrary, we took them 
for the inmates of some neighbouring dovecote. They 
approach quite close to the huts of the fishermen, to feed 
over the small cultivated patches of corn-land.’”—(Ill. Eggs 
Brit. Birds, vol. i1., p. 228.) 
Seebohm says, “‘ The true home of the Rock Dove is on 
the rocky coasts—bold headlands and beetling cliffs which 
are tunnelled by ocean caves. Cliffs where there are few 
caves are not so much frequented by the Rock Dove; thus 
at Hamborough, although it is far from uncommon, it is 
not nearly so numerous as on the wild, rugged, western 
shores of Scotland, where so many caves are found.” 
The note of this bird does not differ perceptibly from that 
of the Ring Dove, and is soft and full—coo, coo, roo-coo.”’* 
— (Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. i., pp. 406, 407). 
* This is quite as correct as words can render it; only, as the letter 
r is rolled in French, so the letter o is rolled in the language of Doves. 
