234 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



number of white fantail pigeons ; as they are 

 remarkably tame, I have had full opportunity for 

 noticing any peculiarities regarding them, and I 

 have frequently been struck with this iridescence 

 which at times pervades their snowy feathers, 

 more especially when they are in full plumage. 

 This is no mere fancy on my part, for I have 

 pointed it out to other people, who have also been 

 able to distinguish it, and this peculiarity is perhaps 

 even more apparent on a dull day than when the 

 sun is shining brightly. 



Although the ring-dove is a resident in this 

 country, our stock of these birds is very greatly 

 augmented from time to time by the appearance 

 of large flocks which visit us, much to the regret 

 of the farmers, whose crops sustain very material 

 damage by their depredations. Some eight or 

 ten years ago one of these huge flocks visited the 

 part of Hampshire in which I was then residing, 

 and for a time they were little short of a plague 

 to the farmers. At night they roosted in a large 

 neighbouring woodland. I happened to pass 

 through this wood on one occasion during that 

 period, and close to one of their roosting-places. 

 The bushes were covered with their feathers, 

 and the branches torn and broken away with the 

 weight of the birds, which had evidently crowded 

 together for the sake of protection. On another 

 occasion I saw them as they were winging their 

 way to roost, and I should be afraid to state my 

 opinion either as to their number, or even as to the 



