8 



parts of Epirus during the winter months ; but it is not abundant in that province. I never saw 

 it in Corfu." 



In Southern Kussia it appears to be very common, especially on the east side of the Black 

 Sea ; and Professor von Nordmann states that in October there is one continuous stream of 

 migration between Anapa and Trebizond, lasting for ten or fifteen days, and immense numbers 

 are netted by the inhabitants. It is said to be common in Asia Minor in winter ; but com- 

 paratively few breed there. Mr. Danford informs me that he found it common, in large flocks, 

 at Gozna during December, and saw it at Anascha in March and April. Dr. Kriiper says that 

 he is unaware if any breed there. Referring to the occurrence of the present species in Palestine, 

 Dr. Tristram writes (Ibis, 1868, p. 209) as follows: — "Of the Columbidse, Columba palumbus is 

 spread in countless myriads over the wooded parts of the country in winter. Never, even in the 

 lowlands of Scotland, have I seen such flights as cover the forests of Gilead at that season. The 

 flights of Passenger Pigeons in America alone can compare with them. The fellahin villagers of 

 Gilead adopt a cruel yet simple device by which large numbers of Ping-Doves are taken in the 

 season of migration. A bird is snared, its eyelids sewn up with thread, and then it is tied to a 

 perch, and placed on a tree, where the spectacle of the captive vainly flapping its wings attracts 

 a continuous crowd of its fellows, many of whom fall victims to the weapons of the fowlers, who 

 are in ambush close by. It would be inexplicable how such multitudes of Pigeons can find a 

 living in a comparatively uncultivated country, did we not know that all the Columbidse feed 

 greedily on the foliage of any species of leguminous plants, and that the clovers and Astragali 

 are the characteristic flora of this country, coming into leaf in winter and withering in April and 

 May, by which time all the Ring-Doves have left. Indeed I doubt whether any remain so late 

 as May, though possibly a few linger in Carmel and the higher grounds near the coast." 



There appears to be no undoubted instance of its occurrence in North-east Africa, though 

 Von Heuglin says that he thinks he recollects seeing it at Alexandria ; but it is not uncommon 

 in North-west Africa. Loche says that it is resident in Algeria, in moderate numbers, in the 

 forest of Boghar and other wooded districts, and is abundant on migration. Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake 

 observed it in Morocco in March ; and, according to Favier (fide Colonel Irby, Orn. Str. Gibr. 

 p. 132), it is found near Tangier throughout the year; some are migratory, crossing to Europe 

 in March and April. Colonel Irby himself says (I. c.) : — " In some localities in Morocco the 

 Wood-Pigeon positively swarms. In April, up a valley near the Foudak, to the south-west of 

 that place, on the road between Tangier and Tetuan, it would have been easy to shoot a hundred 

 in a day, they were in such numbers and so excessively tame. Two or three which we shot to 

 eat, had their crops full of the tuberous root of some weed which had been ploughed up and was 

 lying in quantities about the fallow fields. During the same month, about three years previously, 

 I noticed considerable numbers about Larache ; but there they were much more wild, though 

 not so shy as in England or Andalucia." It has also been met with in the Azores ; but 

 Mr. Godman, who says (Nat. Hist. Az. p. 31) that he received two examples from the Azores, 

 adds that it is only found in the eastern and central groups, and is most common in St. George's 

 and Pico. 



To the eastward the Ring-Dove does not extend far into Asia, indeed not much to the east 

 of the Ural, being replaced by Columba casiotis, which is easily distinguishable by its buff neck- 



