272 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



a tame pigeon. I, however, examined it with my telescope, 

 and plainly saw that it was a white ring-dove. Its size and 

 shape of tail clearly showed this ; but the most certain mark 

 was a Uue ring instead of the white one. Notwithstanding 

 my efforts, I could not succeed in killing this bird, and only 

 got one random shot, about eighty yards off. 



The sleeping-place of this flock was a small belt of tall 

 trees, half a mile from their feeding-ground. I constantly 

 saw the white dove perched near the top of one of the highest 

 trees (another undeniable proof of its wood origin), and man- 

 oeuvred to obtain a shot, but was completely baffled by the 

 wary bird. Should, however, the night resting-place of ring- 

 doves be known, a few may easily be killed by keeping one 

 side of the plantation, and sending some one to make a little 

 noise on the other. They will continue flying overhead, quite 

 within distance, until the reports of your gun have driven 

 them all from their retreat. Many a one have I bagged in 

 this way, as I generally gave the pigeon woods a trial when 

 returning home in the evening. A bad shot may have good 

 sport by waiting for them at dusk under these roosting trees. 

 The 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 heed- 

 lessly 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 con- 



