ROCK-DOVE. 



COLUMBA LIVIA, J. F. Gmelin. 



Columba livia, /. F. Gmelin, S. N. i. p. 769 (1788), ex 

 Brisson ; Naum. vi. p. 186 ; Macg. i. p. 268 ; Hewitson, 

 i. p. 274; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 13; Dresser, vii. p. 11. 



Culombe biset, French; Feld-laube, German; Zurita, 

 Paloma brava, Spanish. 



In England this species is exceedingly rare in its pure 

 unadulterated form, although many of the denizens of 

 our dove-cots very closely resemble their more or less 

 remote progenitors. I may here state that it is generally 

 admitted by naturalists that all the domestic races of 

 Pigeon owe their origin to the present species. On 

 certain parts of the coast of Wales the Rock-Dove exists 

 in small colonies ; it is abundant in suitable localities 

 on the western coast and islands of Scotland, in the 

 Orkneys and Shetlands, and on the east coast as far 

 south as the Bass Rock. In Ireland, wherever sea-caves 

 exist, the Rock-Dove is to be met with in numbers. I 

 noticed a few in the north of the Isle of Man. My 

 acquaintance with this species has been formed chiefly 

 on the islands of the Mediterranean, but is by no means 



