THE CUSHIE-DOO. 99 



the good and damage done by these birds to 

 farm crops (Highland and Agricultural Society's 

 Transactions for 1896.) This investigation showed 

 that the Ring-Dove was largely a grain and leaf- 

 devouring bird, and, on the whole, injurious to 

 the farmer ; but it is difficult nay, impossible, 

 to arrive at a just conclusion. The principal 

 grain found in the crops was barley the place 

 of investigation was Fife and the vegetable 

 portion consisted largely of clover and turnip 

 leaves ; but in addition to these there were 

 quantities of the flower buds of the buttercup, 

 the seeds of charlock, and other injurious weeds. 

 In January and February the food consisted 

 largely of turnip leaves ; in March, clovers were 

 added to the diet; and in April, grains of barley 

 and oats got from the newly-sown fields ; in 

 May, grain, grass seeds, and flowers of the beech ; 

 June, elm seeds, buttercup buds, and clover ; 

 July, clovers, spring seeds, buttercup buds, and 

 the leaves of cruciferous plants ; August, Sep- 

 tember, and October, grain ; November, beans, 



