6 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



Family COLUMBID^. Genus Columba. 



STOCK DOVE. 



COLUMBA ^NAS.— LwmcsMs. 

 Plate II., Fig. 1. 



Columba senas, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 279 (1766) ; MacgiU. Brit. B. i. p. 287 (1837) ; 

 Dresser, B. Bur. vii. p. 23, pi. 458 (1876) ; Yarrell, Brit. B. ed. 4, iii. p. 8 (1883) ; 

 Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. ii. p. 401 (1884) ; Lilford, Col. Mg. Brit. B. pt. xx. (1891) ; 

 Salvadori, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 261 (1893) ; Dixon, Nests and Eggs Brit. B. 

 p. 346 (1893) ; Seebohm, Col. Pig. Eggs Brit. B. p. 158, pi. 47 (1896) ; Sharpe, 

 Hanb. B. Gt. Brit. iv. p. 244 (1897). 



Geographical distribution. — British : The Stock Dove is a resident 

 throughout England and Wales both inland and near the coast, but more locally 

 distributed than the Eing Dove. It is very rare and local in Ireland and Scotland, 

 but its range is steadily increasing. Foreign : West Palaaarctic region. It 

 ranges from Scandinavia east to the Ural Mountains, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, 

 Turkestan and Afghanistan. It is a summer visitor only to the northern portions 

 of its range, which extends in the vi^est up to lat. 62° and in the east up to 

 lat. 57°. It breeds throughout Central and Southern Europe and North-v^^est 

 Africa. It is rare in Palestine, and doubtfully recorded from Egypt. 



Allied forms. — Columha eversmanni, an inhabitant of Central Asia. 

 Differs from the Stock Dove in having a pale rump, a vinous crown, and a black 

 base to the bill, and is slightly smaller. The Stock Dove is represented on the 

 North Atlantic African islands by several allied but quite distinct species. 



Habits. — Although so common and widely distributed throughout the year, 

 the Stock Dove is much less known to sportsmen and naturalists than is the 

 preceding species. It is also often confused with the Bock Dove, in spite of the 

 fact that the two species are very different in appearance. Although this species 

 may be met with frequently on the coast (in Tor Bay it is the only Pigeon of the 

 cliffs, but practically deserts these places during winter), and even in quarries and 

 on moors and downs, yet it is most abundant in wooded districts, especially where 

 the timber is aged and hollow. To many sportsmen it is known by the name of 

 " Eockier." It is a shy and wary bird, and rarely allows a near approach unless 

 it considers itself unseen ; and will then often remain in trees or on the cliffs until 

 it is well within gun-shot. The Stock Dove flies rapidly and impetuously, having 



