THE RINGDOVE. 233 



or the breast of the sitting bird, or perhaps the callow 

 young have been distinctly visible from below ? 



The sounds and nest alluded to are those of the 

 Ringdove, or Wood Pigeon, a native bird that is 

 known by a variety of local names, among which are 

 Queest, Woodquest, Cushat and Wood Dove. 



THE RINGDOVE. 



As it is a truly handsome and most presentable 

 looking creature, the Ringdove attracted my notice 

 very early indeed in my bird-keeping career, but for a 

 long time my desire to include it in my collection 

 remained ungratified, though every winter I used to 

 see it hung up in the poulterers' shops in considerable 

 numbers, some of which I even occasionally helped to 



