62 MID-APRIL 
no contrast ; this was due to the many sur- 
rounding twigs, illustrating once again what 
I have stated in the preface of Part I of this 
work. 
Here let me briefly state how the wild 
British pigeons may be distinguished. There 
are two species much like each other (1) the 
Ringdove or Woodpigeon, called in some 
parts the ‘ Cushat,’ in others the ‘ Queest,’ etc., 
and (2) the Stockdove. (The term dove is 
applied to several kinds of pigeons.) Both 
are rather larger than a good-sized tame 
pigeon (say a Homer or a Carrier), and are 
about fourteen inches long, the ringdove being 
larger than the stockdove. The colour that 
strikes the eye in the ringdove when seen 
from afar isalight bluish chestnut brown, and 
white feathers edging the wings are notice- 
able during flight, and are distinctive. The 
stockdove is of a general blue tint with a 
purplish-red chest, whilst the beak and legs 
ave caymine. When close, the ring on the 
base of the neck of the ringdove is quite 
distinct, although not a very even mark 
