RING DOVE. 177 
ORDER COLUMB:. 
FAMILY COLUMBIDZ. 
RING DOVE. 
CoLUMBA PALUMBUS, Linnzeus. 
Wood Pigeon, Queeze, Cushat. 
Throughout the whole of the county the Ring Dove 
is a well-known resident, and has undoubtedly in- 
creased in numbers within recent years. Naturally, 
it is most abundant in the woodlands of Wirral and the 
Plain, but large numbers breed in the plantations and 
fir-woods of the hilly districts of the East. Flocks of 
migratory birds visit the county in the winter months, 
sometimes in considerable numbers. In Cheshire, as 
in other parts of the country, the winter of 1893-94 
was memorable for the hordes of Ring Doves which 
invaded the fields and woodlands. In the course of a 
morning walk on the 10th of December 1893, in the 
neighbourhood of Northenden and Baguley, we saw six 
large flocks, the smallest of which must have numbered 
two hundred, and the largest over six hundred birds. 
Besides these large gatherings there were many smaller 
parties here and there in the fields. Mr. R. Newstead 
and the Rev. C. Wolley-Dod, who observed a similar 
influx of migrants at Eaton and Edge, both commented 
upon the unusual abundance of acorns in that season.? 
1 Dobie, op. cif. p. 327. 
M 
