BIRDS. 1*79 



The Pigeons (Columbidce) include the Wood-pigeon, Cushat 

 or Ring-dove (Columua palumlus), the Wood-dove or Stock- 

 dove (C. osnas), and the Turtle-dove (Turtur auritus). The two 

 former remain all the year in England, but the last-named is 

 merely a summer visitor from Mny to September. 



The Wood-pigeon is chiefly found in Conifer woods, where it consumes 

 a large quantity of ripe seed, buds, and catkins of different trees at 

 flowering-time. Where numerous, they often break the brittle leading- 

 shoots of Douglas Fir, Silver Fir, and Spruce, by settling on them. The 

 Stock-dove mostly frequents mixed broad-leaved woods, and feeds on buds, 

 flowers, and fruits. The Turtle-dove is usually found in small woods 

 among fields and meadows, and feeds principally among the latter. During 

 the spring-time all three species assemble in flocks, and do great damage 

 to sowings in fields and nursuries ; and in autumn, when acorns and 

 beech-nuts are ripe, the two larger kinds feed on the mast, but without 

 doing much damage. Coating the seed with red-lead powder is the best 

 protection in nurseries. 



Among Jays, the Common Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and the 

 Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactcs) are mainly destructive. 



Although they scratch up acorns and beech-nuts, and devour the 

 cotyledons of young seedlings, the chief damage they do is in destroying 

 the eggs and young of insectivorous singing-birds. Seed-beds can be 

 protected with a framework, but shooting is better. 



Though some kinds of Finches (Frivgillidce) arc more bene- 

 ficial than harmful, others do much damage. The more injurious 

 kinds are the Chaffinch or Pie-finch (Frinyilla ccelels), the 

 Brambling or Mountain Finch (F. montifringilla), and the 

 Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris) ; while the Common Crossbill 

 (Loxia curvirostra), the only Loxia common in Britain, must 

 also be classed along with them. 



The Chaffinch and the Mountain Finch collect in large flights in autumn 

 near nurseries, and in spring they feed on the cotyledons of the young 

 seedlings. The Hawfinch is a more varied feeder, and does more damage 

 in gardens and orchards than in nurseries or woods. Where Finches are 

 troublesome, seed-beds may need the protection of a framework. Other- 



