BIRDS IN THE CALENDAR 



this season, but also because large numbers 

 of gunners, no longer able to shoot game, 

 are thus at the disposal of the farmers and 

 only too glad to prolong their shooting for a 

 few weeks to such good purpose. 



Many birds are greedy. The cormorant has 

 a higher reputation of the sort to live up to 

 than even the hog, and some of the hornbills, 

 though less familiar, are endowed with Gar- 

 gantuan appetites. Yet the ringdove could 

 probably vie with any of them. Mr. Harting 

 mentions having found in the crop of one of 

 these birds thirty-three acorns and forty- 

 four beech-nuts, while no fewer than 139 of 

 the latter were taken, together with other 

 food remains, from another. It is no uncom- 

 mon experience to see the crop of a wood- 

 pigeon that is brought down from a great 

 height burst, on reaching the earth, with a 

 report like that of a pistol, and scatter its 

 undigested contents broadcast. Little wonder 

 then, that the farmers welcome the slaughter 

 of so formidable a competitor ! It is one of 

 their biggest customers, and pays nothing 

 for their produce. One told me, not long ago, 

 that the woodpigeons had got at a little patch 

 36 



