large forests of France it is abundant, and residènt, but in
the countries bordering the Mediterranean it principally
occurs on migration. In Morocco, however, Colonel Irby
observed it during the breeding-season near Tangier, and
also as far south as Earache; and it certainly visits and
probably breeds in Algeria; but its occurrence as far as
Egypt is at present open to doubt. In Palestine and Asia
Minor it is also, found, reaching as far as the Tigris, but
beyond the Persian plateau, and eastward of that liue and of
Turkestan, its place is: taken by a very interesting; and distinct
species, C: eversmanni. The latter, whilst resembling
€L cenas in the broken and undefined character of thé bars
on the wing, differs from it in having the basal half of the
bill black, the crown of the head vinous, and a pale grey
band across the rump, in which latter characteristic it
approaches the Rock Dove,. € . Ivoia. . ■
The.beak is horn-white at the tip : the basal portion red;
irides brown; head, neck, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts
bluish-grey; primary quill-feathèrs brownish-grey, the external
margin lighter ; secondaries pearl-grey at the base of
the outer web, lead-grey at the ends; tertiala bluish-grey, the
laat three with a, dark lead-grey epoton the outer web, and a
similar spot on some, of the wing-coverts above, without,
however, forming a regular band in toy position of the wing;
rump and upper tail-coverts light: bluish-grey; tail of twelve
feathers: the basal two-thirds bluish-grey, inclining to white
on the outer web of the exterior ones, followed by a band of
lighter grey: the ends lead-grey ; chin bluish-grey; sides ■ of
the neck glossy green, with purple reflections ; breast vinous;
belly, flanks, vent, under wing, and under tail-coverts pale
bluish-grey; tarsi and feet "red.- The who!©' length- of the
male is about thirteen and a half inches-. From the carpal
joint to the -end of wing nearly nine-inches ; the second quill-
feather the longest, and the third nearly equal to-'-it. - The
female is somewhat smaller, and: her colours are less .brilliant.:
■ Young; birds before their, first -moult. have: no- shining
metallic feathers in the neck, nor are the: spots on the tertials
and wing-coverts apparent.
COLUMBÆ. COLUMBIDÆ.
Columba livia,' Gmelin.*
THE ROCK DOTE.
Columba* ■ Uviu*-
T h e R ook D o ve, as its name implies, is a species which,
in its natural and wild state, inhabits rocks whose cayities
afford it shelter during the greater part of the year. Such
localities are in these islands principally confined to the sea-
coast, and consequently the records of the Rock Dove being
found breeding; inland are,, in many cases, open to the
suspicion that either the Stock Dove has been mistaken for
it, or that the individuals in question are really domestic
birds which have abandoned, the- dovecote.. It has already
been, pointed out that even on the sea-coast, it is frequently
* Columba lima, G-melin, Syst. Nat. ju p. |6 9 ex Brisson. There„is
some uncertainty about Gmelin’s description, but the name has been universally
adopted for this, species.