THE CUSHIE-DOO. IO3 



tree close by, from which they were subsequently 

 taken by cutting the branch to which 

 they were attached. On dissecting the 

 pigeons I had shot, I found their crops full 

 of the seeds of the wild viola or heartsease 

 (v, tricolor), which grew plentifully on this 

 poor bit of land. 



Wild Pigeons, like the tame species, are very 

 fond of sand, and require, when feeding on grain, 

 coarse sand or gravel to aid their digestion, for 

 which they fly long distances, often to the sea- 

 shore. I have often, when waiting to get a shot, 

 sat and watched the Wild Pigeons feeding. A 

 single bird may be seen sitting on the fence, 

 and not far off, perhaps, two or more are sitting on 

 the ground. Soon the one on the fence joins 

 the others. Away high up in the air and far 

 off may be seen a black speck. By and by it 

 grows larger. It is travelling at a rapid rate, 

 and by its flight we can now know it to be a 

 Wood Pigeon. It rapidly descends almost fall- 

 ing flies round in a large circle, and drops close 



H 



