BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 300 
sixteen feet from the ground, built in the open cleft of a taU 
lime tree which stands in the policies of Nithsdale School, 
CarnsaUoch. Mr. J. Harkness from Ruthwell and Mr. E. A, 
Johnson-Ferguson from Ecclefechan also inform me of 
similar situations. 
During autumn and winter this species is often found in 
company with flocks of Wood-Pigeons ; but occasionally it 
is seen in separate flocks of from thirty to forty individuals. 
In 1889 it appears to have been unusually numerous.* 
It is believed, however, that the great number of our locally- 
bred birds migrate south in October, returning to their 
nesting-haunts in March and April. 
From having been a rare bird five and twenty years 
ago, the Stock-Dove has now (1910) become almost a common 
species, and is annually increasing. Though this addition 
to our avifauna is welcome, it must not be supposed that a 
superabundance of these birds would be anything but detri- 
mental to agricultural interests. If our birds of prey were 
only allowed to increase, there is no doubt that they would 
keep in check both this and the preceding species. 
[THE ROCK-DOVE. Columha livia, J. F. Gmehn. 
Local names— Blue Rock ; The Doo. 
" It's no the doo-cot that makes the doo." 
Henry Scott-Kiddeix. 
So long ago as 1837 WiUiam MacgiUivray questioned whether 
the Rock-Doves nesting on the west coast of Scotland were 
quite pure,t and nowadays there are but few spots on the 
Bntish coasts where this species may be found uncon- 
tammated by tame Pigeons, unless, perhaps, on the rocky 
chffs of Ireland. Being essentiaUy a bird of the sea-clilfs 
mstances of its nesting inland are tainted with the suspicion 
* Dumfries Courier and Herald, September 17th, 1889. 
t MacgiUivray, Hist. Brit. Birds, 1837, Vol. I., p. 268. 
