52 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



RING DOVE OR WOOD PIGEON. 

 Columba palumbus, Linn. 



The Wood Pigeon with us is not numerous enough 

 to be troublesome, it breeds in our woods sparingly, 

 is most plentiful in winter, feeding upon the turnip- 

 tops, where they are mostly met with and shot. 



STOCK DOVE. 

 Columba cenas, Linn. 



Small flights of Stock Doves are not uncommon, 

 they too, like the Wood Pigeon, visit our turnip 

 fields in winter, are more vigilant, and when keeping 

 together are not easily approached. They sometimes 

 breed in the old cherry trees in my orchards, never 

 in the woods, are fond of an early sown pea field 

 sheltered by the woods and will traverse every inch 

 for a few surface scattered peas. 



TURTLE DOVE. 

 Turtur covimuniS) Selby. 



The Turtle Dove as a rule comes not before the 

 latter end of April, some years it is very plentiful. I 

 have seen thirty or more together feeding on the 

 turnip seed. They frequent the corn-fields where 

 they feed upon the fumitory and other such like 

 seeds. They breed in our woods and are common. 



