RING-DOVE. 489 



In some instances the species has been observed at the 

 Lighthouses on the coast, as reported to the British Associa- 

 tion Migration Committee, and mentioned in the Reports 

 issued by that body. 



The voracious appetite of the Wood-Pigeon is commented 

 upon so long ago as Tunstall's time, and as much as half 

 a pint of wheat has been taken from the crop of an individual 

 near York {Zool. 1866, p. 456). As illustrating the damage 

 done by this bird, the following saying, in vogue amongst 

 Cleveland agriculturists when sowing beans, may be quoted : — 



" Sow four beans in a row, 



One to rot, one to grow, 



One for the Pigeon, and one for the Crow." 



Another item of folk-lore in the North Riding is to the effect 

 that the common people believe that at some remote period 

 the " Cushat " laid its eggs on the ground, while the Peewit 

 made its nest on high. An amicable exchange took place 

 between the two birds, and at the present day they respectively 

 sing out their feelings on the subject ; according to the local 

 rhyme the Peewit says — 



" Peewit, Peewit, 



I coup'd my nest and I've it." 



The Cushat's note implies — 



" Coo, coo, come now. 

 Little lad, with thy gad, 

 Come not now." 



Though not, as a rule, amenable to domestication, this 

 species has been bred in confinement in the City of York, 

 as mentioned in Allis's Report, and strangely enough a pair 

 used to breed annually in the elms near the Boys' School 

 at Bootham in that City. Late nesting is not uncommon, 

 and, of Yorkshire examples, Mr. F. Boyes reports one of a 

 nestling found on 2nd November in the year 1872. 



Of variations in plumage may be mentioned a specimen 

 with grey back, at Huddersfield {Zool. 1888, p. 352) ; a pure 

 white example, seen at Ingleby by Lord de L'Isle and Dudley, 

 in the summer of 1901 ; one of a pale red colour in Mr. F. 



