328 COLUMBID^. 



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. 



Some of the foreign species are distinguished by their 

 brilliant plumage. Those inhabiting Britain are unmarked 

 by gaudy tints, but redeemed from plainness by the me- 

 tallic glossy lustre of their neck feathers. 



The Wood Dove, called also Wood Pigeon and Eing 

 Dove, is the largest British species, exceeding in dimen- 

 sions most varieties of the domestic Pigeon. The summer 

 wanderer through a wood in almost any part of the coun- 

 try can scarcely fail to have been disturbed in his medita- 

 tions by the sudden flapping of wings of some large bird, 

 which, without uttering any note, dashes through the foliage 

 of a neighbouring tree, and makes off with hurried flight 

 for some distant part of the wood. Seen through the 

 openings of the trees, its predominant tint is blue-grey, 

 but a large patch of white is jdistinctly perceptible on each 

 wing. It might be mistaken for a hawk, so rapidly does 

 it cleave its way through the air ; but birds of prey are 

 too wary to betray their movements by the sound of their 

 wings ; they, too, rather launch into the air, than start 

 with a violent clapping of their pinions. A Jay might 

 make a similar noise ; but when alarmed it always utters 

 its harsh scream, and, if it comes in sight, may at once be 

 distinguished by the striking contrast of its white and 

 black feathers. The bird just disturbed can scarcely, then, 

 be anything but a Wood Dove, perhaps frightened from 

 its nest, perhaps attending on its mate, or it may have 

 been simply digesting its last meal, or waiting until sent 

 forth by the cravings of hunger in quest of a new one ; for 

 the bird, though exemplary as a spouse and parent, has a 

 large crop which is never allowed to remain long empty. 

 The food and habits of Wood Pigeons vary with the season. 



