ii2 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



bend to the passing breeze, they seem to be fore- 

 runners of the myriads of flowers which, in a few 

 weeks, will make this wood a paradise of spring. 



From a group of beeches comes the coo-coo of a 

 wood-pigeon, and stealthily going in that direction I 

 see one of the prettiest birdland scenes imaginable 

 a ring-dove wooing his mate. There are several 

 pigeons, but the centre of attraction is a young male, 

 who is showing himself off to advantage to each of 

 the hens in turn. First he approaches one which 

 probably has already mated, for, after bowing and 

 cooing round her, he receives a well-merited sharp 

 peck, which damps his ardour, but only for a moment, 

 for he next flies to another hen, which receives him 

 in the same way, and not being desirous of any such 

 attention or nonsense, she too flies away, her rightful 

 mate following. 



Then the persevering lover sees a probable mate 

 in a pigeon which is preening its feathers in a tree 

 near which I am in hiding. He flies to this tree and 

 watches for a few moments, then growing bolder, 

 approaches by short stages, until he is on a branch 

 quite close ; but still the hen does not deign to notice 

 the intruder. By puffing out his feathers, bowing 

 and cooing amorously, he endeavours to attract atten- 

 tion, while the other is smoothing out the feathers of 

 a wing. The coy hen then lifts her head and gives 

 this ardent lover a gentle peck, which has the effect 



