RING PIGEON, OR CUSHAT. 135 



c-ome fully fledged, and they remain thus united till 

 the beginning of February, when the first mild days 

 and the genial influence of the ascending sun again 

 call forth those instinctive feelings which urge them 

 to separate and pair, and each to seek an appropriate 

 retreat for the rearing of a future brood. At first 

 when thus congregated, they haunt the stubbles, or, 

 in districts producing an abundance of beech-mast 

 or acorns, the woods and trees ; but as these re- 

 sources become exhausted, they resort to the turnip 

 fields, the leaves and tops of which root they greedi- 

 ly devour. This food now constitutes their princi- 

 pal support during the winter and early spring months, 

 or until the clover begins to sprout, and the seed-corn 

 is committed to the earth, and it has been observed 

 that the increase of the species has been progressive 

 with that of the culture of this valuable root. The 

 numerous and extensive plantations that of late years 

 have been so generally made throughout the island, 

 arid which, in a young and close growing state, are 

 peculiarly favourable to its habits, must also be taken 

 into account, and perhaps these tend, in an equal de- 

 gree to the cause above assigned, to the rapid in- 

 crease of its numbers. When thus united, they re- 

 pair to their feeding- ground early in the morning, and 

 again in the afternoon before they retire to roost, the 

 middle of the day being passed in repose or digest- 

 ing their first meal, upon the nearest trees. When 

 thus perched, some are always upon the watch, and 



