CHAP. Xv.| TURTLE-DOVES. 121 
wild plants, thereby saving the farmers an infinity of, trouble in 
weeding and cleaning their lands. The wood-pigeons breed here 
in great numbers, the large fir-woods and ivy-covered banks of 
the river affording them plenty of shelter. Their greatest enemy 
in the breeding-season is the hooded crow, who is constantly 
searching for their eggs, and from their white colour, and the 
simplicity of the nest, he can distinguish them at a great distance 
off. The sparrowhawk, too, frequently carries off the young 
birds, when nearly. ready to fly, taking them out of the nest. It 
is a curious fact, but one I have very often observed, that this 
hawk, though I have seen him in the vicinity of the wood-pigeon’s 
nest, and have no doubt that he has known of the young birds in 
it, never carries them off till they have attained to a good size, 
watching their daily growth till he thinks them fit to be killed. 
In game-preserves wood-pigeons are certainly of some use, 
both in affording to vermin a more conspicuous and more favourite 
food than even partridge or pheasant, and in taking the attention 
of the larger hawks from the game. But he also does good 
service in giving notice of the approach of any danger, loudly 
flapping his wings as he flies off the trees on the first alarm. 
And at night no bird is so watchful. I have frequently attempted 
to approach the trees where the wood-pigeons were roosting; but 
even in the darkest nights these birds would take the alarm, 
affording in this respect a great contrast to the pheasant. The 
poor wood-pigeon has no defence against its enemies excepting 
its watchful and never-sleeping timidity, not being able to do 
battle against even the smallest of its numerous persecutors. 
Though the turtle-dove never breeds here, and is supposed 
never to visit this part of the country, I have twice seen a pair 
about my house, both times towards the end of autumn. Last 
year a pair remained for about three weeks here, from the middle 
of October to the beginning of November, when they disap- 
peared; probably returning southwards, not being nearly so 
hardy a bird as the wood-pigeon. Besides the wood-pigeon, we 
have considerable numbers of the little blue rock-pigeon, breeding 
along the caves and rocks of the coast, and feeding inland in 
large flocks. On the opposite coast of Ross-shire and Cromarty, 
very great numbers are found during the whole year. The caves 
there are much more extensive, and the rocks less easy of access, 
