284 Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 



nous numbers, occasionally not less than five hundred aj^pearing in 

 one flock. Mr. Selby remarks that the ring-dove prefers fir and 

 ash-trees to roost in, but in this park, the beech apparently is pre- 

 ferred above all other species. Not only is a wood consisting of 

 these trees their chief resort, but in mixed plantations their tops 

 may be seen dotted with these birds, when none appear on other 

 equally lofty deciduous trees, pines, or firs. It was a very pleasing 

 sight on one occasion here to see a number of these birds descend 

 from the highest trees to drink at the river Lagan — which bounds 

 the demesne at one side — before retiring to roost. On November 30, 

 1838, which was a very dark day, several hundreds were settled on 

 the trees apparently for the night, so early as half-past two o'clock 

 in the afternoon. The immense flocks here, rising en masse from 

 their roosting-places with thundering noise, remind us of the vast 

 flights of the passenger pigeon in North America, of which we are so 

 fully informed in the graphic narrations of Wilson and Audubon. 



The earliest date in my journal, with reference to large flocks 

 roosting in Belvoir Park, is Sept. 16, 1840, and in the spring of the 

 preceding year, they are noted as seen in very large flocks so late as 

 the 25 th of iMarch. 



But they breed here fully as early as in the north of England, 

 occasionally even earlier than the latter end of February — the time 

 mentioned by Mr. Selby ; lofty trees are generally selected for the 

 nest, but in a locality where the species was protected I have in 

 more than one instance known the nest to be placed not more than 

 seven feet from the ground, in young fir-trees. Their cooing, with 

 which the woods resound in the early spring, and their singular flight 

 at this season, rising and falhng suddenly in the air, render the ring- 

 dove highly attractive. Although this bird will, where protected, 

 display little fear of man, particularly in the breeding-season, it is 

 generally very wary, and when assembled in flocks, extremely so : its 

 sense of hearing must be remarkably acute, as the slightest noise, 

 even at a distance, will alarm a flock, and cause the temporary de- 

 sertion of its intended roosting-place. 



The large flocks alluded to divide into foraging parties in the 

 morning, though some few may be seen about their roosting-places 

 at all times of the day. In severe frosts they are driven to the tur- 

 nip-fields, to feed upon the green tops of the plant. I have seen large 

 flocks regaling on beech-mast ; and they are partial to ploughed fields, 

 on account of the seeds and other vegetable matter turned up. Useful 

 in consuming the seeds and roots of weeds injurious to the crops, yet 

 Mr. Waterton, who looks upon all the feathered race in the most fa- 

 vourable light that truth will warrant, does not consider the ring-dove 

 of any service to man. A friend, whose country-seat is in the valley 

 of the Lagan, and near to Belvoir Park, where the species is so nume- 

 rous, reports, that he has often seen ring-doves pluck gooseberries 

 and currants from the bushes in his garden, but never knew them to 

 attack his cherries. They are very destructive to young plants of 

 the cabbage tribe, which are preferred to the tender tops of turnips. 

 Quantities of all kinds of his grain, when ripe, are stated to be de- 



