32 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



On account of its frequenting similar nesting- 

 ing-places, the Stock-dove was at one time con- 

 founded with the Rock-dove, which, except in 

 this particular, it hardly resembles. Although 

 the former often associates and feeds with the 

 Ring-dove, it can easily be told from that bird 

 by the absence of white about the neck. As 

 a species, the Stock-dove is rapidly extending 

 its range in a northerly and westerly direction. 

 This has been particularly observed of late in 

 Western Europe, whilst in our own country it 

 is most marked. 



Like most pigeons, the Stock-dove rapidly 

 adapts itself to circumstances, breeding and 

 haunting very dissimilar spots in different 

 localities. In the south, it betakes itself to the 

 " stocks " of pollarded trees ; and it is probably 

 this circumstance to which it owes its name. 

 In the north, the building of this species in 

 stocks or hollow trees hardly holds good. It 

 is fond of resorting to rabbit burrows ; and 

 sometimes sheld-ducks, stock-doves, and rabbits 

 may be found forming one community and 

 breeding in the closest proximity. In autumn, 

 Stock-doves not only fly in flocks, like their 

 congeners, but associate with large bodies of 



