198 INCREASE OF WOODPIGEONS. [PART II. 



in other parts of England. That this should be 

 the case is certainly not a little extraordinary, for, 

 considering that the number of eggs in each nest 

 is limited to two, and that these, from their colour, 

 from the loose fabric of the nest, and the compa- 

 ratively slight attempt to conceal it by the parent 

 birds, are perhaps more easily discoverable by their 

 biped enemies, winged and human, than those of 

 any other bird ; that the Woodpigeon itself is, 

 from its fondness for ripe corn and green crops 

 (particularly turnips) very obnoxious to the 

 farmer, at whose hands it consequently meets with 

 but little mercy ; and finally that it is universally 

 appreciated for the table ; one might naturally at 

 first sight suppose that there was no bird a 

 gradual decrease in whose numbers might be pre- 

 dicted with greater confidence. 



In the Isle of Wight (and perhaps the same 

 observation may apply to other parts of the coun- 

 try as well) I believe this singular increase in the 

 number of Woodpigeons is mainly owing to the 

 increase which has taken place of late years in the 

 cultivation of the turnip-crop, the leaf of that 

 plant during the winter, and indeed as long after 

 it as any remain in the ground, constituting by 

 far the principal part of their food. Although they 



