The ROCK DOVE (_Columba livia_)--see Coloured Plate XXVII.--is of a pale
greyish hue on the mantle and bright blue on the under side; the head is
light slate-blue, the throat deep slate-colour, glistening above with
bright blueish green, and on its lower portion with a purple gloss; the
rump is white. Two black lines pass across the deep grey wings; the
tail-feathers are dark bright blue, tipped with black; those at the
exterior are white on the outer web. The eye is sulphur-yellow, the beak
black, with a light blue base, and the foot deep blueish red. The sexes
are alike, and the young somewhat deeper in their colours than the adult
birds. This species is thirteen inches long and twenty-three broad; the
wing measures eight inches and one-sixth and the tail four inches and
one-third.
The Rock Dove in its natural state inhabits rocky sea-coasts, flying only
sufficiently inland to procure food. It is spread over a very wide range
of country, being met with as far north as the Faroe Islands, and as far
southward as Africa. In Great Britain it is found both on the southern
coasts of England and in the east and west of Scotland. In the Orkneys it
breeds in the crevices of the rocks, the nests being at such a depth that
they are quite out of reach. During the day the Doves associate in flocks
and search for food, which consists principally of grain and seeds.
The Rock Dove breeds twice in the season, each brood consisting of two
young, generally a male and a female. The eggs are white and of a short
oval shape, rather pointed at one end. From this species our Dove-cote
Pigeons are derived, and they, like their original progenitors, seldom
roost or settle on trees.
The nest of the Rock Dove is a mere heap of straw, dry grass, and twigs,
with a slight hollow in its centre for the reception of the eggs, which
have a glossy, pure white shell. The female alone builds, but is supplied
with materials by her devoted mate, who remains constantly near her both
day and night. The blind and unusually helpless young are hatched about
sixteen or eighteen days after the eggs are laid, and leave the shell
within from twenty-four to thirty-six hours of each other. As with their
congeners, the nestlings are at first nourished with pulp from the crops
of their parents, then with partially digested seeds, and when fledged,
with hard seeds, with the addition of tiny pebbles and bits of clay, to
assist the still weak gizzard in the work of trituration. When about a
month old the young are strong enough to quit the nest in company with
their parents, who, however, soon leave them to their own devices, and at
once commence their preparations for a second brood.
"The Blue Pigeon, or Rock Dove of India" says Jerdon, "differs from
that of Europe only in having an ash-coloured instead of pure white
rump. It is one of the most common and abundant birds, congregating
throughout the country in large flocks, and breeding wherever they can
find suitable spots. They are most partial to large buildings, such as
churches, pagodas, mosques, tombs, and the like, frequently entering
verandahs of inhabited houses and building in the cornices. Hollows in
walls of cities or towns are favourite places, and in some parts of the
country they prefer holes in wells. In default of such spots they will
breed in crevices and cavities of rocks, caverns, and sea-side cliffs,
and are particularly partial to rocky waterfalls. The celebrated falls of
Gaissoppa are tenanted by thousands of Blue Pigeons. These Pigeons are
held in respect by most Hindoos, and almost venerated by some, insomuch
that if a pair build in the house of a native he considers it a favourable
omen."
* * * * *
The CUCKOO PIGEONS (_Macropygiæ_) constitute a group distinguishable
by the slender formation of their bodies, their small heads, long
tails, and short wings and feet. These birds are all eminently social
in their habits, and frequently keep together in large flocks. All
subsist principally upon fruit and seeds, and, in order to obtain these,
constantly occupy woods and forests, from whence they occasionally venture
forth to seek for food in well-planted gardens and orchards.
[Illustration: THE PASSENGER PIGEON (_Ectopistes migratorius_).]