WOOD-PIGEONS. 145 



tember, and often well into October, The home-bred Cushats 

 at that period depart southwards, which brings me back to 

 the date at which I commenced this sketch of their annual 

 movements. 



Of late years we have had a pleasing addition to the variety 

 of Wood-pigeon shooting in the appearance, in the north of 

 England, of his smaller relation, the Stock-dove. Few facts 

 in local ornithology are more remarkable than the rapid 

 extension of the northward range of this species, which 

 formerly was totally unknown here. Out of some thousands 

 of Wood-pigeons killed at Silksworth during the last twenty 

 winters, there was not a single Stock-dove until four or five 

 seasons back, when we got one, which was regarded as quite 

 a rarity. The following winter three or four were obtained, 

 but in the winter of 18845 they became quite numerous. 

 Of fifty- three wild pigeons shot at Christmas-time no less 

 than five were Stock- doves, and many others were with them. 

 During the subsequent months of January and February, 

 1885, we obtained them quite commonly indeed, two or 

 three Stock-doves were killed almost every evening we went 

 out to shoot Cushats, and they came to be regarded quite as 

 a regular component part of the bag. They sometimes flew 

 to roost in company with the Cushats, for birds of both 

 species were once or twice killed out of the same flock ; but 

 more often the Stock-doves came in separately, in small 

 parties of six or eight. They were easily distinguishable 

 from Cushats when on the wing, by their more rapid, impet- 

 uous flight, as well as by their much smaller size, as the 

 following weights will show : Wood-pigeons, weight 17oz. to 

 26oz. ; Stock-doves, weight 12foz. to 14Joz. 



The crops of the latter were filled with turnip (not tops), 

 various field seeds, and a little grain. One contained thirty- 

 seven sprouting beans, weighing nearly IJoz., besides some 

 grain. We replanted the beans, which in due time grew to 

 maturity. 



Previous to their appearance as above described, the only 

 Stock-dove observed here was one shot by my brother on 

 September 25, 1878 ; and in 1881 a pair built a nest in the 

 ivy on the side of the house, and laid one egg on April 18. 



i. 



