THE ROCK AND STOCK DOVE. 
317 
to the continents of Asia and Africa, where food is more abun- 
dant at that season. The nest of the Eing Dove is to be found in 
woods and plantations, generally on a branch, or in the fork of an oak, 
beech, fir, or other suitable tree ; often high up out of reach, but 
sometimes, especially if on a fir or pine, but a few feet from the 
ground. It is composed of a few twigs bent together very loosely. 
Bishop Mant tells us — 
How in the depth of solemn groves 
The Cushat and the Turtle Doves 
On the tall fir of transverse sticks 
Their artless dwelling rudely fix, 
Where on tlie gazers' eye below 
Gleam their twin eggs of drifted snow. 
Here, if you listen for awhile, you may hear the note of the bird, 
often deeper and more pleasant than that of the Rock Dove, which 
may be imitated by pronouncing the syllables coo roo, coo roo^ the 
two last protracted. And if a noise is made, so that the bird is 
startled from its leafy retreat, the picture drawn by John Aird in 
these lines will be realised — 
The Cushat, startled from her ivied tree ; 
Comes clapping out above hiin, down right o'er 
The river takes, and folding her smooth wings, 
Shoots like an arrow up the woody fall 
Of yon high steep, and o'er it bears away. 
The loveliest feat in all the flight of birds. 
The Rock Dove, which is said to be the original of our domestic 
pigeons, is a very beautiful bird ; the general colour of the plumage 
is light greyish blue ; the neck is resplendent with green and purplish 
red ; the middle of the back and lower wing coverts are white ; there 
are two black bands across the wing ; the bird is brownish black, tho 
length is about fourteen inches. 
This bird occurs in great numbers in the Hebrides, Shetland and 
Orkney Islands, and along the rocky shores of the northern parts of 
Scotland, and less plentifully here and there on the coasts of other parts 
of Britain, as well as Ireland. It resides in caves and crevices of rocks, 
feeds in the pastures on seeds of various kinds, has a very rapid 
flight, walks gracefully and quickly, is gregarious in winter and 
spring. The nest, rudely composed of small twigs, grass, &c., is 
placed in a sheltered part of the rocks ; the purely white eggs are 
always two in number. The young taken from the nest are easily 
tamed ; but if let loose, they wdll generally revert to a wild state again. 
The Stock Dove is about the same size as the former species, and 
similarly coloured, only that the rump is blue instead of white. It 
occurs in various parts of England, residing in woods, and searching 
the fields for seeds and other vegetable substances. It generally 
nestles in a hole of a decayed tree, or on a stump or pollard ; hence, 
as some say, the origin of the name ' Stock ; ' others derive it from its 
being supposed by the older writers, who confounded this species 
with the Rock Dove, to be the original stock of the several varieties 
of domestic Pigeons. 
