58 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



the stam o' the whuts." I was with the man at 

 the time ; after that examination of the birds' 

 crops he declared he would never shoot another 

 pigeon. 



Facts are subborn things to deal with. Any one 

 fond of wild creatures can soon form a most accurate 

 and impartial estimate as to the amount of good 

 and harm they may do, although the knowledge 

 may not be gained in a year. Of course one would 

 not say no harm at all is done. The amount varies 

 according to circumstances over which the poor 

 bird has no control weather, or shortness of food, 

 such as acorns and beech-mast. The trees do not 

 always bear equally well, and then the creatures 

 are driven to fill their crops with any green food 

 that is not absolutely injurious. But wild pigeons, 

 as a rule, get their living in the woods and on the 

 outskirts of the fields. They form one of the most 

 pleasing and familiar sights in our rural districts ; 

 and to many of us, as to one of our best women 

 poets, the "cushat's cry" is dear. 



The white rumped rock-dove, or rock-pigeon, is 

 not a common bird in the southern counties. In 

 the rocks by the sea they have their favourite homes. 



