The Flocks of Wild Pigeons. 35 



THE FLOCKS OF WILD PIGEONS. 



Another characteristic feature of the Wye-side slopes, 

 at present writing, is the Quest, or Cushat, not as an indi- 

 vidual bird, but in grand congregations. The flocks are 

 now at their fullest, and I have never observed them in 

 larger numbers. One I saw this very day could not have 

 counted much less than a thousand. Just now the turnip 

 fields are their special foraging grounds ; and scarce one 



NUTHATCH. 



but has its little group, if not large assemblage, of these 

 birds moving about among the green tops, which have 

 been prostrated by the late superstratum of snow. As the 

 leaves are rather withered and delabrees, the pigeons seem 

 to apply their beaks more to the roots, doing consider- 

 able injury to the crop, as the farmer too truly knows. 

 But he has his remedy, since he can recoup himself by 

 shooting them, the Quest not being protected by game 



