The Wood Pigeon 215 



Their mode of drinkmg differs from that of the true 

 gallinaceous birds ; they do not take short sips, lifting the 

 head after every draught, but satisfy their thirst by one 

 continuous immersion of the whole bill. 



They build their nests of a few sticks, and lay two 

 white eggs. 



The food and habits of wood pigeons vary with the 

 season. In spring and summer they are most frequently 

 seen alone or in pairs. They then feed principally on the 

 tender leaves of growing plants, and often commit great 

 ravage in fields of beans and peas. Spring-sown corn is 

 attacked by them both in the grain and the blade, and as 

 soon as young turnips have put forth their second pair 

 of leaves, they, too, come in for their share of devastation. 



As the season advances, they visit the cornfields, 

 especially those in the vicinity of their native woods. 

 They prefer, above all, those parts where the corn has 

 been laid by rain or wind, and where a neighbouring grove 

 or thicket will afford them a ready retreat if disturbed. 

 They have become a scourge of agriculture, and hence the 

 war which is now systematically waged, by organised 

 shoots, against them. They are in great demand as an 

 article of diet, but, being very cautious and shy, are some- 

 what difficult of approach. I have given my experiences, 

 however, in the article which follows. 



THE ENEMV OF THE FARMER — THE QUIST 



It is true that the yeoman in the centre and south of 

 England has latterly been relieved of this pest by the 

 recently organised pigeon drives, notably in Hereford- 

 shire and the neighbouring county of Gloucester, but sad 

 havoc is still wrought by these birds in spring and the 

 beginning of harvest. I have seen whole patches of peas, 

 beans, &c., laid waste by the wood pigeon in spring, 

 whilst the storm-beaten wheat and barley comes in for 

 wholesale devastation. Of course, there is sport for any- 

 one who cares for a shot at these birds, and the farmer 

 welcomes with open arms such aid in ridding the land of 

 such a pest. I know the country pretty well from Ber- 

 wick-upon-Tweed to Lizard Point, a range of some 360 



