THE CUSHIE-DOO. IO5 



being seen, if there is no cover, as there are 

 always some of them on the move. I believe 

 this apparent restlessness is not for protection, 

 but to procure food. What at a distance appears 

 to be the continual rising of a few birds is in 

 reality those in the rear flying over those in the 

 front to get " turn about " of the first of the food, 

 and in this way all share alike. 



The Wood Pigeon is very difficult to tame. 

 I have often taken the young from the nest and 

 reared them, but could never tame them. St John 

 says he reared them so that they became tolerably 

 familiar till the first moult, but so soon as they 

 acquired strength of plumage and wing they 

 invariably left 



No one, so far as I know, has succeeded in 

 getting Wood Pigeons to breed in confinement. 

 They are of a wild, untameable nature, and though, 

 nesting and roosting in the woods close to man's 

 domain, they are very easily disturbed, and when 

 they are set up they fly away with loud 

 beats of their wings. 



