120 COLUMBINE. 



ORDER TIL RASORES (SCRAPING BIRDS). 

 FAMILY XXIII COLUMBINE (PIGEONS). 



GENUS LYIII. COLUMBA (PIGEONS). 



SPECIES 114. THE RINGDOVE. 



Columba palumbus. Linn. 

 Colombe ramier. Temm. 



Woodquest. Cushat. 



THE RINGDOVE is the largest and most widely distributed of 

 our native pigeons, and in the neighbourhood of Dublin oc- 

 curs in considerable numbers. Beautiful in plumage, its 

 amatory notes are among the first to announce a release from 

 the severity of winter, and are listened to with pleasure by 

 every resident in the country, and when heard in concert 

 with many of our song-birds, appear as if wooing the flowery 

 dalliance of spring. 



The food of the woodquest consists of grains and seeds of 

 all kinds, wheat, oats, barley, and particularly turnips. On 

 account of its extensive depredations on the latter in winter, 

 the woodquest receives little favour from the hands of the 

 farmer ; and, during that season, when they congregate in 

 large flocks, the damage occasioned by them to the young 

 green crops is often serious and considerable, and their cap- 

 ture forms a small equivalent to recompense the agricultu- 

 rist for their extensive damages. On the approach of spring 

 they break up and separate in pairs, to provide for the im- 

 portant task of incubation ; then it is that the woodquest 

 begins those agreeable blandishments of love for which the 

 family of Columbine are remarkable : 



** As when the ringdove by his mate alights, 

 In circles each about the other wheels, 

 And, murmuring, coo their fondness," 



so the enamoured ringdove rises rapidly in the air, and, 

 after attaining a considerable altitude, the points of the wings 

 are brought forcibly together, producing a sharp and rather 

 loud sound ; falling gracefully through the air, he repeats his 

 seductive wiles ; or, perching on the branches of a lofty sy- 

 camore, fills the echoes of the woods with his pleasing mo- 

 notony, investing many of the sombre and solemn woods 



