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Nordmann says that, without being rare, it is much less numerous than the Ring-Dove where 

 it also, to some extent, remains to breed. It occurs in Asia Minor, near Smyrna ; and Canon 

 Tristram shot several in Palestine, in the woods near Jericho. Its occurrence in North-east 

 Africa is somewhat doubtful. A specimen, said to be from Egypt, is in the Berlin Museum ; but 

 it was not observed there by Heuglin, Brehm, or Eiippell. It is, however, found in North- 

 western Africa; and is stated by Loche to be common in Algeria, especially in February and 

 October, on passage ; and he adds also that it breeds there. Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1860, 

 p. 69), "I shot several out of a large flock of this bird in the Dayat of Tihlremet, between 

 El Aghouat and the Mzab country, in the month of November. This was the only occasion 

 on which I met with it in the Sahara ; but it is very common in all the wooded districts of the 

 Atlas." Colonel Irby (I.e.), referring to its occurrence in Tangier, writes as follows: — "It 

 is neither mentioned by Favier nor Mr. Drake as occurring in Morocco. I found it near the 

 Foudak at the same time and place that the Wood-Pigeons were so abundant. It is sufficiently 

 common to be known to the Moors there by the above-mentioned name, which, by the way, is 

 the same as that used for the next species (C. lima). They were in some numbers; and I shot one 

 or two for identification, being further informed by the Moors that they nested in holes of trees. 

 They were evidently breeding at that time ; but we failed to discover a nest during the very short 

 period that we remained there. I also noticed the Stock-Dove in April, near Larache." 



. To the eastward the Stock-Dove is found as far as Persia : Messrs. Dickson and Eoss sent 

 specimens from the vicinity of Erzeroum ; both De Filippi and Menetries obtained it in the 

 Caucasus ; and Major St. John shot it on the Persian plateau ; but Mr. Blanford did not meet 

 with it. I have examined a specimen in the British Museum from near Erzeroum, and one from 

 Bagdad, which are identical with our European bird. In India it is replaced by an allied species, 

 Columba eversmanni (Bp.), of which I have not had an opportunity of examining a specimen, 

 but which differs, Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, ii. p. 463), in being " smaller than Columba oenas, 

 with a proportionally shorter tail, barely reaching beyond the tips of the wings. It differs, too, 

 from the European bird in the rump being greyish instead of white (?), in the crown being tinged 

 with vinaceous, in the winglet having less black, and in the grey band of the tail, conspicuous in 

 the European bird, being barely discernible in the Indian." 



As may be imagined, the Stock-Dove resembles the Ring-Dove in its habits ; but there are 

 many differences, easily noticed by a practised eye. In its flight the present species is lighter and 

 more elegant, and when it rises on the wing it does so without the loud flapping sound almost 

 always produced by the Ring-Dove ; and in its mode of flight it much more closely resembles the 

 Rock-Dove than that species, being quite as swift if not swifter. Peaceful and quiet in its habits, 

 it is fond of the company of others of its own species ; and not only do they collect together in 

 the autumn and winter, but also during the breeding-season, and in suitable localities several 

 pairs may not unfrequently be found nesting in close proximity to each other. In all its move- 

 ments the Stock-Dove is graceful ; and it walks on the ground with ease, progressing by short 

 steps like the tame Pigeon, every now and again nodding its head as it walks. When seated on 

 a bough or branch it sits rather upright ; and it usually has some favourite perch, where it will 

 sit early in the day preening its feathers in the morning sun : it most frequently selects some 

 very elevated branch, from which it can have a tolerably clear view of the surrounding country. 



