RING-DOVE 347 



district throughout the county. It would be difficult to 

 wander through the extensive woods and Pheasant pre- 

 serves in Kent without disturbing many pairs of these 

 birds, which dash out from the trees and undergrowth 

 and startle one. At times many may be seen on the 

 ploughed land and open pastures seeking food. 



Their large, loosely constructed nests of sticks and 

 woodbine are conspicuous objects, and attract attention 

 the moment the bird darts off at full speed. 



Dr. A. G. Butler mentions having found a nest in 

 some ivy, with three young ones, while in company with 

 Mr. Janson. This is, no doubt, a rare occurrence, for it 

 is well known to all naturalists that two eggs are the 

 complete clutch. 



The voice of this bird has been variously described, 

 but it sounds like — cod coo coo coo coo uttered three times, 

 then coo A'. 



Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham, 

 states: "In May, 1863, I took a Eing-Dove's nest out 

 of a hollow cherry tree in an orchard within a few 

 hundred yards of the marshes." 



The King-Dove, or Wood-Pigeon, is very common about 

 Boxley, frequenting the large woods in winter, and also 

 the yew trees on the Boxley hills, where it breeds. It 

 is common on the Dering estate at Pluckley, and at 

 Orlestone, where one was shot weighing 1 lb. 6 ozs. 

 on January 30, 1902. A pair were seen at Springfield, 

 Maidstone, in an elm, apparently eating the buds, March 

 3, 1902. This species consumes a tremendous quantity 

 of vegetable food of many kinds, and is very destructive 

 to peas and cereals. 



