136 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



attention until I repassed the spot on my return an 

 hour later. I then saw at the foot of a fir-tree, and 

 on the edge of the stream, a dead Stock Dove. The 

 body was still warm, hut the head had disappeared, 

 and feathers were lying scattered in all directions, 

 while the footprints of a rat were plainly visible on 

 the soft mud around the bird. This set me thinking. 

 Had the Stock Dove returned to roost in the firs 

 and been attacked by the Fieldfares, who perhaps 

 considered these trees there private property, not to 

 be invaded by a stranger ? or what had been the 

 cause of death ? The footprints of a rat were visible 

 on the mud, and the bird had evidently been nibbled 

 at. The much-vexed question occurred to me Is 

 the water-rat carnivorous ? It had become dark, or 

 I might have solved this latter question by patiently 

 waiting and watching ; but I could only speculate 

 while I carried home the pigeon for a roast. During 

 the summer months the common brown rat (Mus 

 decumanus) is frequently to be found in the country, 

 and often occupying water-rat holes. But supposing 

 the rat in question was of this species, how did he 

 obtain the bird ? 



The food of the Stock Dove is very similar to 

 that of its congener the Eing Dove, but a fact very 

 much in its favour is that, instead of confining its 

 attention so much to turnips and clover, it feeds a 

 good deal upon the seeds of some troublesome 

 weeds. The crops of some specimens, examined as 



