STOCK-DOVES, WOOD-PIGEONS, SNIPE 45 



but there is one set bow, to which but one elevation 

 and depression of the tail belongs, and the offerer 

 of it must not only regain his normal upright attitude, 

 but remain in it for a perceptible period before making 

 another. This bow, therefore, is of the most impres- 

 sive and even solemn nature, and expresses, as much as 

 anything in dumb show can express, "Madam, I am 

 your most devoted." 



I believe — but I am not sure, and quite ready to 

 be corrected — that the stock-dove's bow is either a 

 silent one, or, at least, that the note uttered is subdued 

 — the latter seems the more probable. At any rate, 

 I was never able to catch it, either when watching 

 on the warrens at a greater or less distance, or when 

 not so far, amongst trees — for the stock-dove woos 

 also amongst the leafy woods, as does the wood- 

 pigeon, of which it is a smaller replica, but without 

 the ring. "The male wood-pigeon, when courting, 

 bows to the female lengthways along the branch on 

 which he is sitting, elevating his tail at the same time, 

 in just the same way as does the stock-dove. As he 

 does so, he says 'coo-oo-00,' the last syllable being 

 long drawn out, and having a very intense expression, 

 with a rise in the tone of it, sometimes almost to the 

 extent of becoming a soft shrillness. Having de- 

 livered himself of this long 'coo-oo-00,' he says 

 several times together in an undertone, and very 

 quickly, 'coo, coo, coo coo,' or 'coo, coo, coo, coo, 

 coo, coo, coo,' after which, rising, and then bowing 

 again, he recommences with the long-drawn, im- 

 passioned 'coo-oo-00,' as before. All this he repeats 

 several times, the number, probably, depending on 

 whether the female bird stays to hear his addresses 



