136 THE RING DOVE. 



SO great in Haddingtonshire shortly after 1860 that, in 

 1862, the United East-Lothian Agricultural Society offered 

 a premium of one penny for each Cushat's head produced 

 to the collector appointed for the district in which the bird 

 was killed. This scheme was so successful that between 

 December 1862 and June 1870 the heads of 130,440 were 

 presented for payment.^ 



An agricultural association was formed in the east of 

 Berwickshire in 1875, and in January 1876 the members 

 sent a memorial to the proprietors of land in the district 

 to the effect that, considering the great damage done to the 

 crops by the extraordinary and excessive numbers of Wood 

 Pigeons in the county, they had resolved that means should 

 be taken for their destruction, and for this purpose they 

 invited the co-operation of the landowners. In 1877 the 

 association offered a prize of £5 for the greatest number of 

 Cushats killed, but there was no competition. In April 

 1878 the members decided to give a premium of one penny 

 for each head, and one halfpenny for each egg produced to 

 collectors appointed in various localities, with the result 

 that during the year ending the 1st of April 1879, 2980 

 Wood Pigeons and 666 of their eggs were destroyed. Prizes 

 for eggs were again offered by the association in 1885, but 

 there was no response. In some instances men devoted 

 their whole time, during certain seasons of the year, to the 

 shooting of Cushats, travelling about the county from place 

 to place, and taking up their quarters wherever they could 

 make the heaviest bags. They sold the Pigeons which they 

 killed at from fourpence to sixpence each, and thus made a 

 livelihood. 



The Pistol Plantation, on Blackadder Estate, which con- 

 sists principally of lofty old Scotch and spruce fir-trees, is a 

 favourite roosting place of this bird in the autumn months. 



1 luforniatiou kindly supplied 1jy the Secretary to the Society. 



