WILD PIGEONS. 207 



only caution necessary is, not to move your gun until the 

 birds have assured themselves that the coast is clear and 

 no enemy lurking near. As they drop in singly, each 

 dove peers round in all directions before settling ; whereas, 

 at feed, the first few that alight act as spies to the bevy, 

 the rest heedlessly following. If one should chance to fly 

 up, the whole instantly take wing with a noise like distant 

 thunder. 



When frost and snow set in, the last resource of the 

 ring-dove is the turnip-field. Even in deep snow the 

 turnip-tops are not beyond reach, and are generally its 

 staple food in winter. I rather think these doves never 

 devour the turnip itself, although wild-geese do, and even 

 ducks when pinched with hunger. In a country where 

 there are few turnip-fields, ring-doves are seldom seen 

 in large flocks after the beech-mast is consumed. But 

 in the lowland counties, they continue to resort to them 

 in multitudes until they pair in spring. I could never 

 see any diminution in their numbers, nor signs of migra- 

 tion. When they begin to feed on the turnip-tops, their 

 flesh is bitter and ill-flavoured, but the beech-mast and 

 acorns improve it much. 



Early in February, should the weather be fine and 

 sunny, the ring-dove begins to coo. At first there are 

 only a few low notes in the morning and evening, but 

 very soon this soothing sound is to be heard with greater 

 power from every corner of the coppice. The doves may 

 also be seen rising in the air to a considerable height, and 

 then allowing themselves to fall with outstretched wings, 



