The Rock Dove, as its name implies, is a species which in
its natural and wild state inhabits high reeks near the sea-
coast, in the cavities of which it lives the greater part of the
year, only; venturing during summer as far inland as may be
necessary to visit the nearest cornfields, or other places, from
which it can obtain its food. The Rock Dove, as a species
distinct from the Stock Dove, was called Columba livia, on
account o£ its lighter or more livid; blue colour ; the pure
white on the lower part of the back; the two conspicuous
black bars across the wings ; the voice, in conjunction with
the habits, so opposite :to those of the Stock Dove, are s u fficient
proofs of distinction, and accordingly the Rock Dove
is not only admitted as a good -species,' bu t .from several other
-circumstances there appears to be no reason to doubt that the
Rock Dove is also the species from which our Domestic
Pigeons were originally derived.
This bird has a very extensive geographical range, being
found as far north as the Faroe Islands, and southward at
Teneriffe, Madeira, over North Africa, inhabiting most of
the roeky islands in the Mediterranean, and eastwards as far.
as Greeee. In our own country ib js . not, only found oasome
of the high cliffs of our southern coast, but according to Sir
William Jardine and Mr. Selby, it; is found in various parts
both of the cast and'west coasts of Scotland.. . The specimen
from which the figure here engraved was taken, was given me
by John Malcolm, Esq. who brought it, with some ' Others,
from Scotland/ Mr. Macgillivray has' recorded that he found
it in quantities'inhabiting the rocks and promontories of the
Hebrides. The Rev. Mr. Low and Mr. Salmon include it
among the birds of Orkney, where, the latter gentleman observes
that it is very numerous, breeding in the crevices of
the rocks, but the nests are placed at such a depth that it ig
impossible to reach them. Mr. Dunn says fhere^are. .consi-,
derable numbers in the Shetland Isles, where they breed in.
the rocks and deep subterranean caverns, the mouths of which
open to the1' sea; and', to’which' they constantly repair during
the night. Iri-the day they, fly about in large flocks, searching
for fbod, and when? not engaged in feeding, their favourite
resort appeared to be shich-portionS' of the high precipices as
were covered with soft grass.- I t has also" been observed of
-Shetland,-that thos!e1#glands which* produce A the-most com
had the greatest; number of Rock Do'fisto 'Their food consists
principally grain and sSt&d*?1 Colofeel Montagu ascertained:
thaht-lfe^e^t considerable number^bf'th eH%Ux/$frgdta; and'
Mr. - MacgillivraJ^says^they* pick up fgferersT apecies o f shells
snaffej ^espeeififly Helix^erfoiiokSfti -and acutus.
The “Pigeoif’& mode;'of^drinki^ is a «USBlftued draught,>
and not by hipping, astprdetised by?most othe^irds.
^ The ‘ Rock DoW^^fluces^twOf pairs ofi'^oirng in 'ib e season,
each pair ^nerally" doBsisfin^ o f a male and female'bird :
the?eggs ;are whife;f ofl a IshfoYt oval shape, rather pointed* at
one -end,' m'easuring'onMilich fi’^^finfes^®Sle1fl'gth^b|TOfie1 inch
t%dSl»»'and aPhalfi indhehdth. .
The extreme IfhthemiMcalifieS^d^thts specie's-'ha been
already Norsthw'Shetland it^fsyfound in Denmark?“,
1- i-SwedenV NorWayPand" as' far- as the Faroe Islands.
Pehn'aitt^in hisrAfctie,ZdM'g^.#aj^Mh:afe^this bird *§bo#as
far eastnaf’ Lake Baikal, and M. Teinmih^k^^^tioils that
skins from Japan do not differ'in- any'respect from
th fff'd f E u ro p e ^ lo f Africa.
A reference' to^dur Domestic Pigeon’s, and to'hofMhff' the
varietiei^r^hdere'd-permahent' by ’restriction, will follow the
description 'bfithe 'Wild Rock DdveV',?;
The'beak reddish orange,'hhclining to browrf?; iiides-pale
orange:; head and neCk"Wi|^'-’grey,’'dhfe -Sides of the latter
shining with greenrand purple refleOtfeW; shoulders, upper
part of the-back, and b o® ’M ? o f ^ing-coVerts, french-grey J
, Mlslhe greater' coverts with a black bar near-the eitd^ formibg