66 



ZOOLOGY. 



base ; nostrils covered by gristly scales. Toes : three 

 forwardly and one backwardly directed, free, i.e. with- 

 out a web (as in poultry). The young are at first 

 blind and naked. They are at first fed with a cheesy 

 secretion of the glands of the crop ; later, with grain 

 softened in the crop. Doves always live in pairs. 

 Nests careless, flat, of loosely arranged twigs ; situated 

 on tree-branches, rocks, and large buildings. Doves 

 breed twice or thrice a year, laying two longish, 

 shining white eggs. 



Native British forms : — 



1. Wood Pigeon {Columba palvmihus. Fig. 39), from 

 April to September scattered about in the woods, but 

 after the breeding season wander about in flocks, and 



Fig. 39 — ^The Wood Pigeon (Columba ^alumlms), 



in winter travel further south, although many re- 

 main. It nests on horizontal branches, and feeds on 

 seeds of fir and pine, acorns, beechnuts, also grain. 



