The Wood-Pigeon. 197 



milky mass, thus proving, as has been aptly 

 observed, that "pigeon's milk" is not the 

 " absolute unfounded fable it was once supposed 

 to be/' In about three weeks' time they are 

 fully fledged, and are then of much the same 

 colour as their parents, except that the metallic 

 colouring and the white ring on the neck are 

 wanting (these appear after the first moult), and 

 a considerable amount of yellow down is still 

 attached to the tips of the feathers. In the 

 autumn wood-pigeons congregate in large flocks, 

 which remain together until the ensuing breeding 

 season, roosting at night in woods and fir planta- 

 tions, their numbers, in the Eastern counties at 

 least, being increased by immigrants from the 

 Continent. At this time they are most wary and 

 difficult of approach, and from their voracity are 

 dreadful enemies to the farmer. This bird is, 

 indeed, possessed of -so insatiable an appetite that 

 we have often wondered how it contrives to live, 

 and apparently thrive, as ifc does in London, where 

 one would suppose ifc impossible for ifc ever to 

 obtain anything approaching to what it would 

 consider a " square meal." Its food consists of any 

 grain that may be available, though, like all 

 pigeons, it doubtless gives the preference to peas 

 or beans, together with beechmast, acorns, and, so 

 far as the farmer is concerned the only point in its 

 favour, the seeds of many noxious weeds. Ifc also 

 feeds largely on green food, doing greafc damage in 

 clover and turnip fields, especially the latter, where 



