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 
