The STOCK DOVE (_Columba œnas_) is of a deep blue upon the head, throat,
upper wings, lower part of back, and rump; the upper portion of the back
is deep greyish blue, the region of the crop rich deep red; the rest of
the under side pale blue. The quills and ends of the tail-feathers are
slate-blue, the wing is decorated with a dark band, and the neck enlivened
by the metallic lustre common to the race of Pigeons. The eye is deep
brown, the beak pale yellow, with dark flesh-pink base, powdered with
white, and the foot pale red. The young resemble the parent birds, but are
duller in their colours. The length of this species is from twelve inches
to twelve and a half, and its breadth from twenty-five to twenty-six
inches; the wing measures eight inches and a half and the tail five inches.
Many authors have regarded this as the same species as the Rock Dove,
or as having but trifling differences. Yarrell, however, considers them
to be perfectly distinct, both as to habits, voice, plumage, and the
localities which they frequent. "The Stock Dove," says this accurate
author, "was called _œnas_[A] on account of the vinous claret-colour
of the plumage of the neck; and Stock Dove, not because it was by some
considered to be the origin of our domestic stock, but because it builds
in the stocks of trees, particularly such as have been headed down, and
have become in consequence rugged and bushy at the top." In more open
parts of the country, holes in the ground are selected as breeding-places,
especially the burrows of rabbits. When the warreners find the young 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 so as to allow the old birds to
feed them. Bishop Stanley refers to this bird's habit of building in
holes as illustrative of a passage in Scripture. He says; "In the Eastern
countries and the Holy Land, the Wild Pigeons almost invariably prefer
such situations to trees, thus confirming the words of the prophet, who
speaks of the 'dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth'
(Jer. xlviii. 28)."
When the eggs are laid in this manner in deserted burrows, they are either
placed on the bare sand or upon a few dried roots, about a yard within the
entrance. The Stock Dove also nestles under furze bushes, or in the holes
of decayed trees. The eggs are two in number, oval and white, and are laid
about the end of March or beginning of April. The food of the Stock Dove
is similar to that of the last-mentioned species.
The _Columba œnas_ has not been found in Scotland. On the continent of
Europe it is abundant, visiting the central and northern parts during
the summer, and it has been seen in Northern Africa. It is also said to
be met with in the Deccan. The harsh and somewhat grunting note of this
species is usually uttered while the bird is perching, and is accompanied
by considerable inflation of the throat. When in flight its movements
are very rapid and noisy, the wings producing a rushing sound, which
gradually becomes shriller and clearer, but altogether subsides when
the gently hovering motion commences that precedes alighting. So strong
is the love of the Stock Dove for its favourite retreat, that even if
repeatedly alarmed it returns immediately to its place. The period of
incubation commences early in spring, and, if not disturbed, the female
produces three broods in the season, the first eggs being deposited by
the beginning of April. During the whole time his mate is thus busily
engaged, the male bird testifies the greatest devotion, keeping close to
her, and constantly uttering his cooing note. Many are the quarrels that
ensue between the various couples at this period, for, as each requires
an unused hole in some tree wherein to deposit a brood, the demand is
usually greater than the supply, and as these localities are also much
resorted to by such formidable antagonists as Starlings, Woodpeckers,
and Jackdaws, the domestic career of a pair of Stock Doves is by no means
one of uninterrupted peace and harmony. This constant change of domicile
is rendered necessary by the rapid accumulation of the castings from the
young, with which the inmates become so soiled that some time elapses
after they have left the nest before the feathers are thoroughly purified;
fortunately for the building birds, by the following season, insects
of various kinds and the busy Woodpecker have cleared away the refuse
from the holes, and made them fit for occupation. We are told that the
affection of this species for its brood is so strong that it is almost
impossible to force the parent birds away, and that a female Stock Dove
will remain to be shot rather than desert her eggs.