NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 39 



11. — On the natural history of the JVood Pigeon (Cohimha jjcdumhus), 

 with remarks on its extraordinary increase of late years throughout 

 the Agricultural districts of Scotland. By Mr Egbert Gray. 



The author of this paper in the course of his remarks showed 

 that about eighty years ago the Wood Pigeon was almost un- 

 known in East Lothian, a county which may now be said to be 

 the head quarters of the bird in Britain. Within the Hmits of 

 that district alone, upwards of 50,000 Wood Pigeons had been 

 destroyed in the course of three years, a fact which almost proves 

 that Haddingtonshire is yearly invaded by large migratory flocks 

 from other countries. Mr Gray had himself seen prodigious flights 

 of these birds arriving about daybreak on the coast near Dunbar ; 

 and other observers, favourably situated in coast localities south 

 of the Tweed, had of late years published similar records. The 

 Wood Pigeon is known to migrate southwards from the pine 

 forests of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and some parts of Russia, 

 and, on settling in a purely agricultural district like East Lothian, 

 these flocks would not return to their native forests like Fieldfares, 

 Redwings, and other strictly migratory birds, but remain satisfied 

 with their new quarters, and thus fill the place of home-bred birds 

 which had been destroyed. 



Mr Gray also read the following communication from Lord 

 Binning, one of the Society's corresponding members : — 



III. — Notes on the food of the Wood Pigeon. 

 By Lord Binning.* 



When I originally began to make observations on the habits 

 and food of the Wood Pigeon, my intention was to note during 

 each month of the year its prevailing food, but, having spent 

 nearly the whole of the last three summers in Cheshire, where 

 the Wood Pigeon is a comparatively rare bird, I have had no 

 opportunity of making my observations during the summer 

 months, and the notes that I now offer are therefore most in- 

 complete, and hardly worthy of your acceptance. My object in 

 making these notes was to ascertain the correctness of the opinion 

 expressed by the Rev. F. 0. Morris, that "It may safely be said 



* Now Earl of Haddington. 



