BIRD-LIFE OF THE WOODS AND GROVES. l6l 



county admirably suited to the requirements of 

 this Falcon, and there can be little doubt that 

 it is considerably overlooked, especially in the 

 woodlands lying between the South Hams and 

 the central plateau. 



Our woods and groves are well stocked with 

 birds of the Pigeon tribe, but by far the most 

 abundant and widely distributed species is the 

 Ring Dove. This bird seems everywhere to be 

 on the increase, and the damage it works upon 

 the crops is somewhat serious. In such a 

 thoroughly pastoral county we do not think that 

 this increase need be viewed with any great alarm 

 by the farmer. The bird, on the other hand, does 

 much good in consuming the seeds and leaves of 

 many troublesome weeds, whilst its flesh is an 

 esteemed delicacy. In all parts of the county 

 this Dove shows a decided preference for fir and 

 pine woods, or for woods in which those trees 

 occur. We often pause at dusk to watch the 

 Ring Doves come home to roost from the sur- 

 rounding fields. Singly and in pairs and com- 

 panies they arrive, generally flying high, and 

 dropping with great speed and noisy clatter of 



wings into the roost trees. Belated birds con- 



ii 



