OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. j 



flat and almost shapeless mass. The eggs are normally two, 

 but exceptionally one or three in number, oval in form, and 

 pure and spotless white. They are on an average i"6 inch in length 

 by I -25 inch in breadth. They are sometimes laid one on each 

 successive day, but often a day is missed between each. Incuba- 

 tion lasts from seventeen to twenty days. Both parents assist 

 in the task, and in ministering to the wants of the young. It 

 should be remarked that in all the species of this family the excreta 

 of the young are never removed, and, caking together, soon form a 

 firm platform with the twigs on which the heavy nestlings rest 

 secure. The young are brought to maturity by being fed with 

 half-digested food regurgitated from the crop of the old birds. The 

 Ring Dove has been known to breed in confinement, and also to 

 hybridise with the domestic Pigeon. 



Diagnostic Characters.— [Adult] Columba, with a con- 

 spicuous white bar on the wings, and white patches on the sides 

 of the neck. [Young] with a white wing bar; neck patches, 

 absent. Length, 16 to 17 inches. It might here be remarked that 

 the irides of this bird, as is the case with many other species, 

 change in colour with age. Thus in the young bird they are 

 very dark, nearly black, whilst in the adult they are brilliant 

 yellow. 



