228 
COLUMBINE. COLUMBA. 
M^alo, 14; 27 ; 9^; t^* FcmalG; 13^; 26^. 
The Bock DovG; which is the original of our domestic spe- 
cies; occurs abundantly in the Hebrides; Shetland; and Ork- 
ney Islands; and along the rocky shores of the northern parts 
of Scotland; less plentifully here and there on the coasts of 
other parts of Britain; as well as in Ireland. It resides in 
caves and crevices of rocks ; feeds in the pastures and fields 
on seeds of various kinds ; has a very rapid flight; walks grace- 
fully and with celerity ; is gregarious in winter and spring, 
and breeds several times each year. The male struts and 
cooes like the domestic pigeon. The nest, rudely composed 
of small twigS; grasS; and other materials; is placed in a shel- 
tered part of the rocks. The eggS; always twO; elliptical; pure 
white; glossy; measure an inch and seven-twelfths in length; 
an inch and two-twelfths in breadth. Young birds taken from 
the nest are easily reared; and become domestic ; tame pigeons 
sometimes associate with the wild individuals; and even breed 
with them ; and tame pigeonS; becoming wild, and resorting 
to the rocks or to old buildings; gradually assume the appear- 
ance of the wild rock doves. The flesh of this bird is supe- 
rior in flavour to that of the Wood Pigeon; but generally more 
tough. 
Wild Pigeon or Dove. Bock Pigeon or Dove. 
Columba Livia; Temm. Man. d’Ornith. ii. 447. — Columba 
Livia; White-backed; or Bock Dove; MacGillivray, Brit. 
Birds, i. 268. 
149. Columba Turtur. Turtle Dove. 
Male with the head light bluish-grey, the back greyish- 
brown, the scapulars and small wing-coverts black with broad 
light red margins, the breast pale greyish-purple, the neck 
with two large black spots barred with white, the quills and 
tail greyish-brown, the latter tipped with white. Female 
similar, but with the tints duller. 
Male, 11x^2^ j^y if? ify A* 
Somewhat more slender in its form, yet not much so, this 
species has by some authors been referred to a genus apart from 
the three pigeons above described. It arrives in England in 
the end of spring, and disperses over many of the southern 
and eastern counties. A few individuals have been seen in 
Scotland. Its habits are similar to those of the Wood Pigeon. 
The eggs, two in number, are white, glossy, ovate, somewhat 
pointed, an inch and a quarter in length, ten-twelffchs in 
Breadth. According to Montagu, the young have no black 
