THE ROCK DOVE. 23 



he received a random shot, after which I lost sight of him for a considerable 

 time ; but I found him at last, located upon the other side of the island, where he 

 remained till his death. 



" The Eock Dove's nest is made up of small sticks or heather, or dried sea- 

 weed, and is lined with dried grass : the situation selected is any little ledge or 

 cleft within the sheltering bosom of a rocky cavern. The eggs are two in number, 

 generally producing male and female birds. The time for commencing their 

 nestling seems rather variable : this year I found some young ones already hatched 

 on the 2nd of April, while other pairs were only erecting their nests. They have 

 several broods in the year, and their eggs may be found unhatched as late as 

 September. 



" It is rather a timid bird if often shot at, but is by no means a shy or 

 wary bird : in the fields the feeding flocks may often be openly approached, or the 

 most barefaced attempts at stalking them will succeed. In the breeding season 

 the hen will sit on the nest till approached, and never deserts it, though often 

 disturbed, and her nest and eggs handled. She does not seek for inaccessible 

 ledges to build her nest on, but takes any spot which offers, sometimes even the 

 very floor of the cave. If her eggs are taken out, she will probably replace them ; 

 and if her young are taken when half-fledged, she seems glad to get them so soon 

 off her hands, and at once prepares for rearing her second brood. The young 

 birds instantly become quite tame, and reconciled to hand feeding; indeed, as 

 they grow up, their impertinent boldness becomes rather troublesome. They 

 readily take to the dovecot, and pair with the tame pigeons ; even with fancy 

 breeds, such as Fantails, etc. If a pair of real wild ones breed in confinement, 

 their progeny at once show signs of diverging in colour from the natural uniform 

 of their wild ancestry ; the young birds are of a dark slate-colour in their first 

 plumage, though they have the same markings as the adult birds. The male 

 is recognized from his mate by a slight superiority of size, and more lustrous 

 plumage. 



" In a gastronomic point of view, these pigeons are one of the most valuable 

 kind of birds which frequent our coasts. They are nearly always fat and in good 

 condition, are numerous and always to be procured ; besides, being fed constantly 

 upon our barley and oats, one can feel no compunction in levying a tribute upon 

 them in return. 



" They are easiest shot while feeding abroad in the fields : at the caves, a 

 shout will cause them to fly out, but with such suddenness and swiftness, that 

 it requires something of a pigeon-shooter's knack to succeed in hitting them 

 quick enough. An indifferent shot (after knocking over one or two which may be 

 incautiously napping upon the outer ledges) had better conceal himself either in 

 the cave or in a good position above it : in a short time the bird is sure to come 

 darting swiftly for its accustomed haunts, but upon catching a glimpse of a 

 lurking foe, he stops his rapid career, flutters his pinions for a moment, uncertain 

 what to do; that momentary indecision is fatal — down he falls ! — while a roar 



