WOOD PIGEON. 143 



genous, but its distribution is much more limited in 

 extent, being confined to the southern and midland 

 counties of England, and to such districts only as 

 are well clothed with wood ; for, possessing arboreal 

 habits, it is never found inhabiting those localities 

 affected by the Columba livia (rock pigeon), such 

 as the caverns of rocks, ruinous edifices, &c. Du- 

 ring the spring and summer, it is distributed in pairs 

 throughout the woods, where it breeds, sometimes in 

 the decayed hollows of the ivy-mantled trunks, at 

 others on the forks or amidst the higher branches of 

 the trees. The nest is similar to that of the ring 

 pigeon, and its two white eggs, though inferior in 

 size, present the same oblong form. Two broods 

 are annually produced, the first in spring, the se- 

 cond after midsummer, a period of rest or recruiting 

 of the vital forces taking place between the end of 

 May and the middle of July. As autumn advances, 

 the various broods begin to congregate, and soon form 

 flocks of great magnitude, which continue assembled 

 during the winter, and are sometimes seen com- 

 mingled with bodies of their larger congener the 

 cushat. In parts of France, Germany, and the 

 northern kingdoms of Europe, it is a migratory spe- 

 cies, and a summer or polar visitant, the late au- 

 tumnal arid winter months being passed in warmer 

 latitudes, where a due supply of food can then be 

 found. In disposition it shews a timidity and watch- 

 fulness equal to that of any other species, particular- 

 ly during the winter months, when associated in 



