Northern Observations of Inland Birds 195 



coast is clear. If only two approach, and one of the two 

 remains, they retain a lively impression that someone is 

 hidden, and will not venture anywhere near. 



Bought decoys are often effective, but they are too 

 expensive to purchase for occasional chance sport. The 

 best decoy is made by making use of a bird already shot. 

 Place it in the most life-Hke position possible, its head 

 propped up with a forked stick, and the dead bird must 

 be head on to the wind, otherwise its feathers will become 

 ruffled, and no living bird will go near it. It will merely 

 serve, indeed, to scare them away. One should always be 

 prepared for a snap shot. Evening and early morning 

 are the best times for pigeon shooting. 



Twelve years or so ago we used to kill a good many 

 of these birds by placing the dead decoy with wings 

 outspread on the ground, preferably at a wood corner 

 and near to a high hedge. This method afforded nothing 

 but sporting wing shots, as the other birds, unable to 

 understand the strange attitude of the bird on the ground, 

 would fly high over it, and gaining a point almost directly 

 above they would dip in their flight, descending almost to 

 earth, then rise again almost vertically. Thus one obtained 

 fine descending or rocketting shots, but I imagine that 

 the pigeons of to-day would prove too sophisticated for 

 such a method in most parts of England. It is advisable 

 always to use fairly large shot for woodpigeons, as they 

 are capable of carrying an astounding quantity of lead — 

 or rather, their strong, stiff feathers are likely to prevent 

 small shot from having a deadly effect. 



An examination of the contents of the crops of wood- 

 pigeons shot late in the evening often produces surprising 

 results. Like all wild doves, the bird appears to be entirely 

 vegetarian. I have watched one looking most curiously 

 at an insect which, one would have thought, would have 

 been accepted as a dainty morsel, but instead the pigeon 



N 2 



