lo THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



resident in the British Islands, nor is there much evidence to 

 prove that its numbers are increased in autumn by migrants. 

 Indeed, our information is decidedly negative in this respect, for 

 the Rock Doves in the Faroes and in Scandinavia are said to be 

 resident. The Rock Dove is closely associated with the sea, and 

 dwells on the ocean cliffs and the country in their immediate 

 vicinity all through the year. There are many inland colonies 

 of "Rock" Doves, Doves with the rump white and the wings 

 barred, but these unquestionably are descendants of tame Pigeons 

 which have become feral. The true wild Rock Dove is only 

 found on the coast and the country near at hand. This pretty 

 species is readily identified as it dashes from the cliffs, by its 

 white rump. It is ever shy and alert, although loth to take wing 

 so long as it thinks itself unseen. Its flight is rapid and 

 powerful, performed by quick beats of the wings, the bird often 

 going for long distances to feed. I was assured by the natives 

 of St. Kilda that the Rock Doves breeding on those rock-bound 

 isles visited the Hebrides, some seventy miles away, daily for food. 

 All through the year the Rock Dove is gregarious, and during 

 autumn especially gathers into flocks at the feeding grounds. I 

 have often seen very large flocks of this species in the fields near 

 Flamborough and on the farms at North Berwick. This bird 

 has a great antipathy to trees, never alights in them, and when 

 disturbed from the pastures and stubbles either hurries off to the 

 cliffs at once, or takes a more or less extended flight to another 

 part of the fields. Upon the ground it runs about in true Pigeon 

 style, with quick, short steps and bobbing motion of the head. 

 It is ever on the alert, stopping from time to time to scan the 

 surrounding ground, and rarely admitting of a close approach. 

 These birds often fly in a very regular manner to and from the 

 caves where they roost, and good sport may be obtained by 

 waiting their return, or by visiting (usually in a boat) the cliffs they 

 frequent. It requires all a man's resource to bring down a Rock 

 Dove going at full speed from the caves, as he rolls about in a 

 dancing boat ! The note of the Rock Dove is a soft and full 

 coo-roo-coo, variously modulated when the bird is under sexual 

 excitement. This note commences very early in spring, a week 

 or so before the actual nesting season, and is continued into the 



