Class II. STOCK DOVE. 391 



member, and retire early in the spring. They 

 probably come from Sweden, for the time of 

 their migration and remigration in that country 

 coincides with their appearance and disappear- 

 ance in Britain. When the south of England 

 was covered with large woods of beech, they 

 came in myriads to feed on the mast. They 

 also alight on the barley stubble to collect the 

 scattered grain, and in hard weather, are very 

 destructive to turnips by picking holes in the 

 roots, from which they acquire a rancid taste. 

 A few continue and breed in England, particu- 

 larly in Sussex : they make their nests in the 

 hollows of stocks of trees, from which they 

 take their name. I have also been informed by 

 the reverend Mr. Ashby, of Barroxv^ near New- 

 market, that multitudes breed in the rabbit 

 burrows on the sandy plain of Suffolk about 

 Brandon, and that the shepherds annually take 

 the young for sale. 



These perch and roost in trees, which the 

 Rock and domestic kinds never do : yet a few 

 Rock-Pigeons have been often seen mixed with 

 the flights of Stock Doves. I have also fre- 

 quently observed some of these (which are 

 easily known by their grey backs) mingling 

 among the flocks of tame pigeons, and breed- 

 ing with them. This, therefore, causes me to 



