BRITISH WILD PIGEONS. 35 



feathers render it very distinctive as it flies 

 alon»- the face of the cliff. The Rock-dove is 

 rare upon the east coasts, and but seldom 

 strays to the south. It is along the north- 

 western seaboards of Britain that it is found, 

 the coast here being broken and indented and 

 abounding in caves. Here the birds breed in 

 vast numbers, surging out when alarmed in 

 such flocks as to make a sort of subdued roar 

 with their wings. Enter one of these caves in 

 the breeding-season, and you will see the birds 

 covering every shelf and cranny, their white 

 eggs showing beneath as the body is slightly 

 raised at the first sign of danger. 



Like its congeners, the Rock-dove breeds 

 early in the season, from the first days of April 

 right on through summer. Two small, pure- 

 white eggs are laid ; and in whatever situation 

 the nest may be, it is composed of roots, dried 

 o-rass, and seaweed. This species, like the 

 Ring-dove and Stock-dove, is a grain and seed 

 feeder, and, like them, has an enormous capacity 

 for food. In search of it the Rock-dove makes 

 short migrations, though it never appears in 

 great flocks. It is partial to wild land, espe- 

 cially if it be near the coast. Saline water it 



