332 Hahits of the Bingdove, 



one single solitary visit till February sets in ; though they may 

 be seen every day in congregated numbers in other parts of 

 the park, where they roost in the elm and fir trees. During the 

 winter months, they are exceedingly shy and timorous, seek- 

 ing for safety in lofty flight, the moment they see you ap- 

 proach. They become quite silent towards the last week in 

 October, and their notes are reduced to half their number 

 for some days before they cease to coo entirely. At this 

 period they discontinue those graceful risings and sinkings in 

 the air, in which they appear to so much advantage during 

 the whole of the breeding season. 



Thus we have a bird which, during the course of the year, 

 at one time approaches the haunts of man with wonderful 

 assurance, and at another shuns them with a timidity equally 

 astonishing. I speak only of its diurnal movements ; for, at 

 the close of day, both in winter and in summer, when not 

 molested, this bird will come near to our out-buildings, and 

 seek a roosting-place in the trees which surround them. 

 This peculiarity of the ringdove in approaching so near to 

 our mansions during the day in the breeding season, and then 

 losing all confidence in us, as soon as incubation ceases, is 

 not a mere accidental trait of one or two particular birds, 

 whose usual habits may have been changed, either by want 

 of food, or by protection offered ; but it is inherent in the 

 whole species, when the bird is allowed by man to follow 

 Nature's unerring mandates. 



I know of no British bird which has the colour of its 

 plumage so constant as is that of the ringdove. I have 

 never yet seen it vary ; and the white spot or segment of a 

 circle on the back of its neck, from which it takes its name, 

 is always of the same size. 



Ringdoves are exceedingly numerous here during summer; 

 and when winter sets in, many thousands come every even- 

 ing to take up their quarters for the night. They retire 

 early to roost, and never leave the trees till all the other 

 birds are on the stir. 



As yet, all attempts to reclaim this pigeon have been of no 

 avail. I should suppose that it is not in the power of man 

 to make it breed within the walls of a dovecot. For my own 

 part, I am not exactly aware that its reduction to domestic- 

 ation would be productive of much advantage to us. Let 

 others offer it the same protection it enjoys with me, and 

 there would always be an ample supply of ringdoves to fill 

 their groves with softest murmurs, and furnish their tables 

 with a delicious repast. Connoisseurs tell us that the flesh 

 of the ringdove, in winter, has the flavour of moor game : I 



