Pigeons, who decided that
ig to cliffs to breed, not

cting

I submitted it to the inspection of Mr. Tegetmeier; an authority respe
e. and added that the fact of this species resortil
rs, was interesting and hitherto t
locally distributed than

sO

week
it was undoubtedly a Stock-Dov
accidentally, but in small numbe

«Although far less numerous, and more a
his * Birds of Norfolk,’ ‘* the Stock-Dove is plentiful at certain time

particularly the north-eastern and south-western districts.
(from the middle of September to the middle of January, or even later if the winter

if not in great abundance, yet in sufficient numbers to be one of the most
During the latter part of the autumn and beginning
appears, and then generally flocked

inkown.””
the Ring-Dove,” says Mr. Stevenson in

f the year and in certain parts of the
country, In the latter, with the exception of
about four months
be much prolonged), it is found,
characteristic birds of that part of that open country.
absent, yet it only occasionally
the late Mr. Salmon, states that the Stock-Dove, which in
be only an ‘nhabitant of woods, abounds in this neighbourhood
bbit-warrens and heaths, to which it annually resorts
st that arrives in the district for that purpose.
from that chosen by its congeners, the Ring-
this species, on the contrary,

of winter, though not, perhaps, absolutely
with Ring-Doves. That accurate naturalist,
all ‘ works upon natural history is stated to
during the spring and summer months, upon our ra
for the purpose of nidification, and it is in general the fir
The situation which it selects for its nest differs mnaterially
and Turtle Doves, the nests of which are always placed upon trees or bushes ;
occupies the deserted rabbit-burrows upon warrens, and places its pair of eggs about a yard from the
entrance, generally upon the bare sand, sometimes using a small quantity of dried roots, &c., barely suffi-
cient to keep the eggs from the ground. Besides such situations, on the heaths it nestles under the thick
furze bushes (Ulex europea), which are imprevious to rain, in consequence of the sheep and rabbits eating
off the young and tender shoots as they grow, always preferring those bushes that have
made by the rabbits near the ground. A few pairs occasionally breed in the holes of decayed trees. It
generally commences breeding by the end of March or the beginning of April, the young ones, which are
very much esteemed, being ready for the table by the commencement of June. Mr. Alfred Newton tells
me that the young Stock-Doves, being a perquisite of the warreners, are a source of not inconsiderable
profit, as they sell them for from eighteenpence to two shillings a couple, and that almost every warrener
keeps a “dow-dawg,” i.e. a dog regularly trained to discover the burrows in which the doves
breed. Mr. Scales, of Beechamwells, adds that “when the warreners find them in a burrow, they
fix sticks at the mouth of the hole in such a manner as to prevent the escape of the young, but to
allow the old birds to feed them.” Mr. Newton, however, informs me that this precaution is thought

a small opening

unnecessary ; for the more experienced warreners, from long practice, know to a day (after once seeing
the nestlings) when they will be fit to take. Along the extensive range of sandhills in the neighbourhood of
Hunstanton also, the Stock-Doves may be found breeding in considerable numbers, and likewise on Holt
Heath and other similar localities; indeed I have no doubt that with careful obsenonee a few pairs might
be found in summer in many rough furze-covered spots where rabbits are preserved ; but this peculiarit a
ee of the nee is by no means generally known. In 1863, a friend of mine ae fone
; oe’s far 3 : - : : ;

Soa ie ae ae was not a little surprised at seeing a pigeon flutter out of a
turned his ferret: the bird was hah i. : oe aS = ue ae et he
Stock-Dove ; but on a subsequent eeinieanon of the ee oro et

fo)

ie a : ee gs or young were found. é
in that neighbourhood the bird is by no means common . ee I may te

This sp ye | ° ° . °
breeds j - : j pecies, however, in certain distr
ea in our woods and plantations with the common Rine Dove, but in such it ae
: os : e 5” ’ uch situ
the holes of old trees, using only a few sticks by way of lining
circ -cordine pa : é 5
umstance, according to Yarrell, it has acquire

ations it nests either in
a » In the stocks of old oak-pollards (from which
sae the name of Stock-Dove i
he me, in any faggot-stacks left in the plantations for the summe Me 0 ae
the bottom shoul ier ‘ i ae
ee oe sufficient space remain for the purpose. Mr. Newton has also found 1c On f
ird at Elveden, near Thetford, «lai : B80 TOU 8 eee
feet from the ground ee lad on a very thick bushy bough of a Scotch fir A about vee
, ut any nest.” Mr. Samuel Bligh, who has ; : et :
ee gh, who has studied the habits of this species
ys that their actions are occasionally anything but dove-
fall to the ground. <
; — arance ;
trifle less brilliant in colour, particularly in the rice
adorn the sides of the neck. : a

nest being generally placed at

during the breeding-season at F ramingham Earl
lke, as they fight most desperately till one or both

r
The sexes are very similar in outward appe He has shot them in the very act.”

but a
ut the female is rather smaller than the male, and is a

hue :
S of the green and purple metallic tints which

The eggs are white, oblong in form, and very simil
1
The Plate represents a male and the he

ae ar to those of the common Ring-Dove
ad of a female, of the size of life j