RASORES. 137 



soon as they were killed, contained a quantity of 

 seeds of the wild mustard or charlock. 



TURTLE DOVE, Columba turtur. A summer visit- 

 ant from the South, arriving towards the end of 

 April and leaving in September. During the latter 

 month these birds may be seen in small flocks upon 

 the stubbles, gleaning the scattered grain. They 

 are very timid and difficult to approach, but, by 

 sending some one round to the other side of the 

 field to drive them, you may obtain a good shot as 

 they pass over your head. They are very fair 

 eating, but not equal in flavour to the Eing Dove. 



I fancy Turtle Doves have two broods in the 

 year, for I have found the eggs in May and July. 

 The nest is generally placed in an ivy-covered tree, 

 upon a branch close to the trunk. 



I have known an instance of our British Turtle 

 Dove pairing with an African Collared Turtle Dove, 

 and a very pretty cross was the result, but whether 

 the brood thus produced are fertile I have not yet 

 ascertained. 



Family 



PHEASANT, Phasianus colchicus. A few stragglers 

 occasionally found in thick hedgerows and bean- 

 fields, but nowhere plentiful in the county, even 

 where strictly preserved. 



Mr. Murdoch, in his * Observations on Game and 

 the Game Laws,' justly remarks that " Pheasants 



N 3 



