HOCK DOVE. 49 



B A SORES. COLUMBIDJE. 



PLATE CXLV. 



ROCK DOVE. 



COLUMBA LIVIA. 



The Rock Dove is an inhabitant of most parts of 

 Europe, and we find it on the rocky coasts of England, 

 Scotland, and Ireland ; and in the inland districts it frequents 

 old ruins or towers. It is very numerous along the coasts of 

 the Mediterranean, as also in the north of Africa and in 

 Persia. It is said that the Rock Dove is a summer visitant 

 only in the northern parts of Europe, but we apprehend 

 that the migration of these birds depends as much upon the 

 circumstance of their food becoming scarce, as upon the 

 change in the climate. According to some authors the 

 shelves of the rocks in the Orkney Islands are covered with 

 these birds during the winter months ; and throughout 

 Europe the pigeon-house of a farm-yard is as well stocked 

 in winter as in summer ; and the tame or dove-cot pigeons 

 are no other than domesticated Rock Doves, which, if they 

 were so tender as to be unable to bear the cold of winter, 

 would never have become so generally domesticated as they 

 are found to be. It is wonderful how the infinite number of 

 varieties of tame pigeons have been produced from one species : 

 diversity of food, and different habits, arising out of captivity, 

 may contribute greatly towards the multiplication of varieties ; 

 but however much we may admire the various evolutions of 



VOL. IV. E 



