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THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
193. Columba livia. Rock-DoYe. 
Blue Rock. 
A rare accidental visitor, formerly resident in the Isle 
of Wight. 
The visits of this bird in a truly wild state are now 
exceedingly few and far between, and always in winter. 
Sir Richard Worsley writes in his " History of the Isle 
of Wight" (1781): — "Adjoining to Yaverland is a steep 
cliff, called Culver Cliff (Culver from the Saxon ' culppe,' a 
pigeon ; and the number of those birds that harbour there 
well entitle it to the name of the Pigeon Cliff)." 
More mentions ^ that two were obtained at Freshwater 
in November, 1857. 
Hadfield writes 2 that though he had heard of their 
being seen about our cliffs, it was not recorded for fear of 
mistake. " But," he says, " I can no longer doubt it ; one 
of my informants has observed them accompanying the 
daws, and another saw a small flock fly out of the same 
cliffs, and from his description they could be no other than 
the rock-dove." These remarks are dated November, 1865. 
In the Hart collection are specimens dated 1871 and 1875. 
Mr. Meade-Waldo had a flock of pure wild birds from 
County Kerry, which used to flight from Lymington to the 
island, but eventually all disappeared. 
Dr. Cowper ^ says that " two birds, undoubtedly of this 
species, have been inhabiting the cliffs between Luccombe 
and Shanklin this summer (1896 or 1897), but whether 
genuine blue rocks or partially wild birds it is impossible 
to say." 
' *• Birds of the Isle of Wight." i860. Zoologist." 1866. 
3 " Hants Court Guide." 
