OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 7 



wonderful command over itself in the air, and is able to dart and twist in and out 

 of the branches, defying all but the quickest shots to bring it down. Like the Eing 

 Dove it frequents the fields and more open country to feed and to dust itself ; 

 but when alarmed it hurries to the nearest cover, and always repairs to its 

 accustomed roosting-place in thick plantations or on the ivy-clad cliffs at the 

 approach of dusk. It may frequently be seen running along the horizontal limbs 

 of trees, especially during the pairing season. The note of this bird, persistently 

 kept up all the spring and summer, is much harsher than that of the Eing Dove, 

 and may be aptly expressed as a grunting coo-oo-up. At all times of the year the 

 Stock Dove is socially inclined, and in autumn becomes gregarious, the flocks then 

 assuming large size. Many of these birds are migrants from Scandinavia. All 

 through the autumn and winter the flocks frequent the stubbles and fields of 

 newly-sown grain, flying at nightfall to the woods and coppices, where they roost. 

 Eing Doves very often mingle with them. The food of this species largely 

 consists of grain during the time that fare is available ; but seeds of weeds, clover, 

 and grasses are often eaten. This bird is also partial to acorns and "mast," and 

 even consumes blackberries. Peas and beans are favourite fare, and in severe 

 weather, when snow is about, it will eat shoots of grain and clover and the leaves 

 and sprouts of turnips. Although it frequents the ocean cliffs it is rarely seen on 

 the beach below, except to drink the salt water, of which it is particularly fond ; 

 but searches for its sustenance on the fields near by, or often flies to some distance 

 where favourite fare chances to be plentiful. This bird in some districts is looked 

 upon as a pest by agriculturists, owing to its depredations among the grain and 

 green crops, yet its good offices in ridding the fields of weeds is some recompense 

 for its pilferings. 



Nidif ication. — The Stock Dove pairs for life, and returns yearly to breed 

 in some favourite spot even in spite of much disturbance. What is also remark- 

 able is its sociability, even gregariousness, during this period, numbers of nests 

 often being placed quite close together. This may be in some measure because 

 suitable sites are rare elsewhere. Like its congeners it begins to breed early, and 

 is remarkably prolific, continuing to rear brood after brood from March or April 

 onwards to September and October. I have in November shot young Stock 

 Doves not many days out of the nest, with filaments of down clinging to the head. 

 The nest is placed in a variety of situations, yet always well concealed. A 

 covered site of some kind is always preferred. Holes in trees, the deserted nests 

 of Magpies and Crows, the old dreys of squirrels, amongst ivy on trees and 

 cliffs, even in holes of the latter, and in church steeples— these are all favourite 

 places ; whilst in more exposed districts rabbits' burrows are often chosen for the 

 like purpose. I have known this bird nest several yards up a fissure in the ironstone 

 cliffs of a quarry. The nest is slight, and in many instances dispensed with 

 altogether. A few twigs or roots carelessly interlaced, or a handful of straw, are 



