WILD PIGEONS 



THERE are four kinds of dove found in a wild state in this 

 country, the largest of which is the ring-dove or cushat, 

 common all over the kingdom. This bird, called also the 

 wood-pigeon, is thought to migrate by many, but, if so, 

 multitudes stay behind. Perhaps one reason for the 

 supposition may be, that numbers congregate in the 

 autumn and beginning of winter, under beech-trees, to 

 feed upon the mast, and when this is all devoured they 

 separate in search of other food. The first signal for the 

 flocking of wood-pigeons is the yellowing of the grain 

 they then choose the ripest part of the field, if possible 

 near the centre, as being least accessible, and generally 

 keep to the same place. When the acorns and beech-nuts 

 fall, they greedily feed upon them, and I have sometimes 

 taken about a dozen large acorns out of the crop of one 

 bird. The flock are certain to return morning and 

 evening to feed under any clump of old beeches in the 

 neighbourhood of their haunts. First one alights, 

 cautiously looking all round then another, and so on, 



