160 WOOD PIGEON. 



had been placed; she was possibly as strange to them as their 

 unknown language was to her. 



Its flight, though rather slow at times, is on occasion strong, 

 swift, straight, and powerful, the pinions sounding as it cuts 

 the air, the result of repeated strong and regular flappings 

 of the wings, and generally at a considerable height in the 

 air, unless the wind be very high. On the ground it moves 

 in an easy and graceful manner, now walking more erect, 

 and nodding the head at every step, now in a lower position, 

 and now peering about in suspicion of any approach of 

 danger. It roosts near the tops of the tallest trees it can 

 resort to, and comes home for that purpose about sunset, 

 leaving them again at sunrise for the fields. Before settling 

 they usually wheel about the spot where they desire to alight, 

 and if disturbed from it, fly off to a short distance and then 

 return, but if more frequently alarmed move away. 'In fine 

 weather they bask in the sun on dry banks, or in the open 

 fields, rubbing themselves, and, as it were, burrowing in the 

 sand or soil, and throwing it up with their wings, as if 

 washing in water, which they often do, like most birds. In 

 drinking they immerse the bill to the base, and take a long 

 draught.' 



On arriving at a feeding place, they alight suddenly, and 

 generally stand for a short time to reconnoitre. While 

 searching for food the body is depressed, and they walk 

 quickly along, moving the head backwards and forwards. The 

 flock disperse about, but keep out of the way of danger. 



The Wood Pigeon feeds on grain in all its stages wheat, 

 barley, and oats, peas, beans, vetches, and acorns, beech-mast, 

 the seeds of fir cones and wild mustard, charlock, ragweed, 

 and other seeds, green clover, grasses, small esculent roots, 

 ivy and other berries, and in the winter on turnip leaves 

 and their roots in hard weather the first-named are all 

 swallowed whole. It may safely be said that any damage it 

 does, and some it must be confessed is done by it among 

 seed tares, and pea fields, is abundantly compensated by the 

 good that it effects in the destruction of the seeds of in- 

 jurious plants. Even the larger ones that they eat are swallowed 

 whole. 



The well-known note of the Cushat its soft 'coo, coo-coo, 

 coo-coo,' begun sometimes towards the latter end of February, 

 and continued till October, always harmonizes well with every 

 quiet rural scene; and pleasant it is to listen to the plaintive 



