CHAPTER LXXXI. 



The Rock Dove. 



Colimha domestica, Lin. ; Cohmhia livia, Rati. ; Biset, ou 

 Pigeon de Roche, Buf. 



Description and Character. — The Eock Dove, or Wild Blue 

 Pigeon, is not so plentiful as either the Ring-dove or Stock 

 Dove, and is only to be met with in Great Britain, in its 

 natural state, in localities where steep, precipitous rocks abound, 

 for these birds dwell chiefly near the sea where the coast 

 is bound by steep, dangerous crags, or where old castel- 

 lated ruins stand on high, towering eminences, or on rocks 

 or ruins entirely surrounded by the sea, their favourite 

 resort being steep, overhanging rocks, with deep, almost inac- 

 cessible caverns, that are difficult to reach either by land or 

 water. 



A fully-grown bird is from 12in. to 12iin. long. The bill is 

 bluish black ; the irides dark yellow ; plumage pale leaden grey. 

 The lower portions of the back and rump are white ; the 

 neck and breast are brilliantly adorned with green and reddish 

 purple reflections. Across the wings are two transverse bars 

 or bands of bluish black ; the primaries and tail feathers are 

 tipped with the same colour ; the exterior feathers on each 

 side of the tail are white on the outer web. The legs and 

 feet are red. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Rock Dove is indigenous to 

 Great Britain, and is widely diffused throughout Europe. It 

 has been met with in Africa, in Japan, at Madeira, and in 

 some parts of North America. It inhabits most of the rocky 



