139 



WOOD-PIGEONS. 



Of all the many fowls of the air which have contributed 

 to the " cacoethes csedendi " of the writer, there are few to 

 which he owes a deeper debt of gratitude than to the homely 

 Wood-Pigeon. The Wood-Pigeon, or Cushat as it is generally 

 called in the north of England, comes every winter in throngs 

 to our woods, and affords during the earlier months of the 

 year almost as good sport as any bird that flies. 



After many years of observation of their habits, it is yet 

 impossible to lay down any general rules which would apply 

 to their movements. They are among the most uncertain of 

 birds. Like most of the true wildfowl (to which their habits 

 bear some similarity), Cushats are here to-day, gone to- 

 morrow ; abundant one year or one month, scarce the next. 

 Why, one can assign no reason, for, if we build up a theory, 

 perhaps the very next year will completely refute it. To set 

 down what appears to be as nearly an average as possible, 

 there occurs one main annual immigration of these birds in 

 the north of England some time about Christmas — occasion- 

 ally this takes place as early as November, but sometimes not 

 till the end of January. These new-comers are easily dis- 

 tinguishable, being conspicuously cleaner in their plumage, 

 and lighter-coloured than the more grimy residents of the 

 northern counties. Indeed, at that season, we have but few 

 Cushats left of native breed, most of these departing (presum- 

 ably southwards) as soon as their latest broods are fully 

 fledged — i.e., about September and October. There thus 

 occurs an interval between their departure and the arrival of 

 the great influx which takes place later in the season. 



These newly-arrived, brigbt-plumaged birds are usually set 



