WOOD-PIGEON. 



243 



tO; its numbers during the autumn migration. It is gradually 

 extending its range northward, and is now common in the 

 Lothians and other districts of Scotland, where it was unknown 

 but a short time ago. The same may be said of the West of 

 England, but in every county of Ireland it breeds numerously, 

 according to Mr. Ussher, though in the treeless districts it is 

 seldom seen. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The present species is 

 found throughout the Western Palaearctic Region, and 

 extends eastward to Northern Persia, being replaced in 

 South-eastern Persia, Central Asia, and the North-Western 

 Himalayas as far as Nepal by Colu??iba casiofts, which has the 

 neck-patches fulvous, or clayey cream-colour {Salvadori). In 

 most parts of Europe the Wood-Pigeon is a resident, and it 

 breeds as far north as 65° or 66° N. Lat. ; but those birds, which 

 nest in more northern latitudes, migrate south as winter 

 approaches, mostly coming over to Great Britain like the 

 Starlings. 



Habits. — In a wild state the Wood-Pigeon is one of the 

 shyest of birds, as it is also one of the most wary ; but during 

 the breeding season, when once the female has begun to sit, 

 they are more easy of observation. I remember how, when a 

 school-boy, I found a nest in an isolated tree, a small elm. 

 The nest was placed in the fork of a branch against the stem, 

 and was rather difficult of access. My mind was bent at 

 that time upon possessing a live Wood-Pigeon to take home 

 for the holidays along with my other pets (I had eighty birds 

 of different sorts in a stable loft at the time, Barn-owls, 

 Kestrels, Jackdaws, Mistle-Thrushes, etc., etc., etc. ! !). The 

 young Pigeons, however, appeared determined not to be 

 hatched out before my departure for home, so I resolved to 

 catch the old bird if possible. The tree, as I said before, was 

 not an easy one to climb, but I essayed it one morning soon 

 after daybreak, when the hen bird was sitting hard, and I 

 managed to reach the nest and place my hand on the sitting 

 bird ; but not quite far enough, as she flew off" suddenly, and 

 left the whole of her tail in my hand ! 



The Wood-Pigeon creates great havoc among the peas, and 

 I remember once meeting a well-known Cookham gunner 



