HOCK DOVE. 
141 ) 
THE KOCK DOVE. 
Columba livia. 
DOO — WILD PIGEON. 
Under the name of Stock Dove” Dr A. Edmondston very 
evidently describes the present species, the mistake having 
doubtless arisen from the Shetland custom of prefixing the 
word “ stock ” to the ordinary name of the largest or most re- 
markable bird of any genus.* Tlie Kock Dove is very plentiful 
in Shetland. A few years ago its numbers were diminishing 
rapidly. The gun tax, however, has been the means of preserv- 
ing this as well as many other species from steady but certain 
extermination, besides clearing the Peregrine from the charge 
of being the chief means of thinning the ranks. That it is 
the favourite prey of that bird cannot be denied ; but it would 
require all the Peregrines in Shetland to produce a perceptible 
diminution in the flocks either of Unst or of Eetlar. 
It is abundantly distributed throughout the islands, the 
numerous caves which occur all round the coast affording 
suitable breeding-places at the proper season, as well as secure 
retreats from the storms of winter. It is not very difficult to 
approach under ordinary circumstances, and when feeding in 
flocks among stubble is so intent upon its work as to allow the 
shooter to walk boldly up within range ; but in neighbourhoods 
where it is often disturbed it is fully as shy as the Wood Pigeon. 
It is easy to shoot the doves as they fly in and out of their 
caves ; but the practice is dangerous, from the risk one runs of 
shaking down loose fragments of stone, as well as cruel, on 
account of the impossibility of entering the caves in any but 
the calm weather of the more genial seasons of the year, when, 
of course, the birds are breeding. 
The Eock Dove feeds in company with various other species, 
such as Eed wings. Twites, Buntings, and tame Pigeons; and it 
is owing to the latter circumstance that parti- coloured birds 
are so frequently met with in the flocks. In winter, during 
* See note p. 16 . 
