8T0CK-I)0YE. 
COLUMB.l (ENAS. 
The Stock-Dove is exceedingly common in some of the southern and eastern counties of England 
becoming less abundant towards the north, and appearing to be but little known in the north. Flock 
numbering from twenty up to fifty, and even more, may often he seen feeding in the fields in tin 
neighbourhood of Shoreham, near Brighton; many pairs also breed in Stanmer Park. In 1870 I founc 
them exceedingly common on the Potter neigham marshes in the east of Norfolk, being attracted tc 
the locality by the newly sown fields of peas. But few came under my notice while residing in Easl 
Lothian, though in the beautifully wooded glen through which the Beauly runs near Eilean Aigas, 
and again in the valley of the Dhruini, I recognized several pairs. When seen from the hill-side 
above, as they skimmed up and down the course of the river, or perched on the moss-grown droopino- 
birches, the contrast between this bird and the Wood-Pigeon, both species being within view in the 
same tree, was very marked, and at once attracted my attention, as I had been formerly led to believe 
that Stock-Doves were not residents in this part of the country. 
This species is by no means fastidious when choosing its nesting-quarters, almost any site on 
V iich eggs might be laid appearing to be adapted to its requirements. I did not get much chance 
or observation, or make a search for their breeding-places, in either Norfolk or Inverness, but met with 
many opportunities for ascertaining their habits in Sussex within a few miles of Brio-Iiton s. In May 
1874, a keeper pointed out a nest in Stanmer Park on a small limb near the top of a spruce hr at 
the height of about 20 feet from the ground. This strneture, which was somewhat more carefully ’put 
ogether than that of tlie Mood- Pigeon, contained two young birds; in order to reach them, as I was 
tlien in need of specimens at this age, it was deemed e.xpedient to make use of a ladder, the upper 
portion of tlie tree being too weak to admit of climbing. When taken, it was discovered that the 
youngsters were not siiffieieiitly advanced for preservation, and it was necessary to rear them for a 
wee- longer; on a diet of green peas, however, they thrived rapidly, and soon acquired the desired 
condition of plumage In the large elms in the same park there were also several birds sitting on eco-s 
111 the hollows formed where the stems had rotted away ; in most instances no attempt had been maL 
0 oini a nest, the soft dust of the decaying wood probably atfording a sufficiently luxurious accommodation 
Ilie rabbit-biirrows in the chalky soil on the slopes of the South Downs were also resorted to and I 
noticed several pairs breeding in the face of the cliffs in the chalk-pits at ISeediiig and Offham. ’ While 
m quest of the young of a Tawny Owl in a largo wood adjoining Balcombe Forest, we alighted on a 
dense thicker" <>a the limbs of an antiquated oak standing in a 
