CUCULIFORMES. 383 



rocky shores of the coast of Great Britain, and are found in 

 most parts of Europe. Like all our domestic pigeons, they 

 seldom will settle on trees. Even in the high state of domesti- 

 cation of our fancy birds the love of rocky places still exists, for 

 they always fly to ledges of houses, churches, &c., when free, 

 and there, like their early progenitors, form their nest. Eock- 

 doves are very scarce in England, breeding only in a few coast 

 localities, notably Elamborough Head and in Devonshire. 

 Numbers of the following species also breed on the south coast 

 of Devonshire, and may be mistaken for C. Kvia. The white 

 rump, the white under wing-coverts, and the two very distinct 

 bars of black across the wings, easily distinguish it. In many 

 respects it resembles the common blue -rock. 



The Sioch-dove (C cenas) nests in the stocks of trees and even 

 in rabbit - burrows. It may be found abundantly in well- 

 timbered districts in the middle, west, and south of England, 

 and nests about March, but also right through to October. It 

 can be told from the Wood Pigeon by the absence of the white- 

 and-blaok neck -mark, and by the under-side being bluish- 

 grey ; there is also an imperfect black bar on the wing, and the 

 under wing-coverts are grey. 



12. Cuculiformes. 



Cuckoos and Paeeots (CuouLiDiE and Psittaoi). 



The Cuculiformes are the Cuckoos and Parrots. The former 

 alone are represented in these islands, and by a single species 

 only, the Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). This bird comes to us 

 about the beginning of April, when it soon proclaims its 

 presence by its well-known note. It is found throughout 

 Great Britain. The female cuckoo lays her egg on the ground, 

 and then by means of her bill she carries it to some nest to be 

 incubated. For this purpose she specially chooses the nest of 

 a reed - warbler, meadow - pipit, wagtail, or hedge - sparrow. 



