THE ROCK-DOVE. 



Columba iivia, J. F. Gmelin. 

 Plate 53. 



This species, which appears to be the origin of all our domestic races of Pigeon, 

 though breeding in small numbers on some of the rocky parts of the coasts of 

 England and Wales, is not abundant, and no doubt a good many of these individuals 

 are descended from the birds inhabiting our dove-cots. Along the Scottish coasts, 

 and on the northern and western islands, where high and broken cliffs tower above 

 the ocean, it is a common bird, haunting the rocky caverns and fissures overhanging 

 the sea. Within these recesses the rather scanty nest, composed of bents or 

 pieces of other plants, is built, in which the female deposits her two white eggs. 



The food consists of seeds of various kinds, especially grain when it can be 

 obtained, but those of weeds are also eaten. 



The notes closely resemble the cooing of our domestic Pigeon. 



Macgillivray, who has given the best description I can find of the habits of this 

 species, says : " When searching for food, they walk about with great celerity, 

 moving the head backwards and forwards at each step, the tail sloping towards the 

 ground, and the tips of the wings tucked up over it. In windy weather they usually 

 move in a direction more or less opposite to the blast, and keep their body nearer 

 to the ground than when it is calm, the whole flock going together. When startled 

 they rise suddenly, and by striking the ground with their wings produce a crackling 

 noise. When at full speed they fly with great celerity, the air whistling against 

 their pinions. Their flight is very similar to that of the Ringed and Golden Plovers, 

 birds which in form approach very nearly to the Pigeons, as may be seen more 

 especially on comparing their skeletons ; and as this affinity has not been observed 

 by any other person, I would direct the attention of ornithologists to it." 



The bird represented in the plate was drawn from a specimen obtained on the 

 coast of Ross-shire. 



64 



