42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Swede turnip has been well broken into by Rooks or Partridges, 

 it is surrounded by pieces broken out in the process : these frag- 

 ments the Pigeon will readily pick] up from the ground, but I 

 have difficulty in believing that he can break into the turnip 

 himself, — especially in frost, when the bulb becomes as hard as a 

 stone. Examine the bill ; does it look as if it were adapted for 

 breaking into a hard bulb? Examine the lower mandible 

 especially; it is almost as pliable as that of a singing bird. 

 But there is an exception to every rule, and if a Wood Pigeon 

 comes across a partially-decayed bulb, I believe that he would feed 

 on it ; as I watched one this winter, within twenty yards of me, 

 vainly endeavouring to drive his bill into a turnip, which I after- 

 wards examined, and found that he had not left his mark, though 

 he would evidently have fed on it had it been in his power to 

 do so. 



Whilst speaking of exceptions to rules, I may here mention 

 that in March I found, amongst a lot of white clover leaf in a 

 Pigeon's crop, four large and perfect earth-worms, with part of a 

 fifth. In the crop of another, in April, I found one small and two 

 large caterpillars. These are the only instances of the kind that 

 have come under my notice. 



I will now endeavour to give a list of the prevailing articles of 

 a Wood Pigeon's food during the months in which I have made 

 observations, but having lost the notes that I made in 1861, and 

 the two following years, it will not be so complete as I could 

 have wished. 



AUGUST. 



Grain of various sorts, barley and unripe oats prevailing in the 

 beginning, barley and wheat in the end, of the month. 



SErTEMBER. 



Wheat, oats, and barley. 



OCTOBER. 



Wheat, oats, and barley; with peas, beans, and tares. 



NOVEMBER. 



Grain of various sorts; beech-nuts; leaf of Swedish turnip; oak 

 spangle ; seeds of the elm ; acorns occasionally. 



