134 
umberland Siskins). I have never found a Goldfinch’s nest here, 
but have in West Cumberland; here I have frequently seen small 
flights of Goldfinches in winter, which I never saw in the West. 
Again—for reference in uncertainty—how useful to students of the 
Natural History of their district, to have a good Collection for 
their guidance and information. I do not mean that there is only 
one—but there is one family of Birds especially in this County, of 
which I want more certain knowledge—the Doves; and my 
difficulty in this matter shews the need of very great accuracy in all 
our doings. We all know the Wood-pigeon or Cushat,! coming 
down in great flocks upon our turnip fields and oak trees in early 
winter—shy, and wary, and strong. Now he, I believe, is the 
Ringdove, the largest of the pigeon tribe indigenous to England ; 
but is he the bird which builds in our tall fir trees, and makes the 
soft spring mornings pleasant with his murmurous cooings? or is 
that the Stock-dove,? smaller and darker in feather? or do they 
pack together as winter comes on, and then are indiscriminately 
shot as “Cushats” or Wood-pigeons ? 
We find in the Natural History books—the Ring-dove, 
Cushat or Queest, the largest of all the pigeon tribe. A great 
friend of mine in Herefordshire—dead now, poor fellow—a good 
sportsman and keen observer, used to tell me that the Turtle 
Dove? was a regular summer visitor in his county, and bred in the 
great hedgerows; that they generally left about the second week 
n September ; and that it was an old custom of the old-fashioned 
gentry, at the end of -their first day’s partridge shooting, to kill a 
brace or two of these beautiful little birds on their way home—and 
it was called in the vulgar tongue “‘Queest”—-so in loose parlance, 
to the largest and the smallest specimens of one family, the same 
name appears to be given in different parts of England. 
Now all this may seem the veriest trifling to one who cares 
for none of these things. It is wonderful, perhaps, how full of 
interest it is to me, and men of like mind; but only think how 
pleasant, in any perplexity, to be able to have all cleared up by 
looking at the cases in the complete collection in the County 
1 Columba palumbus. 2 C. oenas, 5 Columba turtur.—(ED.) 
