68 
ROCK DOVE. 
difference can be observed, except in size, from 
Orkney specimens, and the birds seem to have 
been inhabitants of these rocks as far back as we 
can trace. On all the rocky shores of the north 
of Scotland, and the islands Orkney* and Shet- 
land,! they are common birds, breeding and roost- 
ing in the numerous caverns with which the 
precipices are pierced. 
Its extra European range appears from various 
authorities to be very extensive. We have not 
had opportunities of examining specimens from 
any of the localities mentioned, nor have we ever 
received it in collections from abroad, but we 
give beneath the sources of our information. Den- 
mark, Sweden, Norway, and the Feroe Islands, 
islands of the Mediterranean as far eastward as 
Greece, Madeira,! Lake Baikal, § Japan, || North 
of Africa, and the island of Teneriffe. 
The prevailing colours in this species are also 
shades of blueish-grey, relieved by two broad and 
distinct dark bars on the wing-coverts and secon- 
daries running across, and by the lower part of 
the back being white. The breast and neck are 
dark lavender purple, with rich purple and green 
reflections, but without any neck patch. The tail 
is of a deeper tint, tipped with a broad dark band. 
The feet and legs purplish-red. 
The principal variations in a domestic or dove- 
* Macgillivray, Low, Salmon. f Mr. Dunn. 
J Yarrell, Brit. Birds, ii. p. 261. § Pennant, Arct. Zool. 
if Temminck. If Selby, Brit. Birds. 
