THE BEONZE-WING PIOEOI^-. 93 



was a summer migrant to our parts, coming down about 

 the end of September for the purpose of breeding, and 

 what few escaped the gun, left about the end of March. 

 An odd straggler or two would certainly remain in the 

 forests throughout the winter. At different seasons they 

 frequent different localities. "When they first arrive, 

 they are to be found among the shey oaks and largo 

 honeysuckles, generally on dry rises, and as often on the 

 ground under the trees as up in the branches. As the 

 season advances, they get much into the heather, espe- 

 cially at night and morning; and both the pigeon and the 

 quail are very partial to heather that has been previously 

 burnt. They are very fond of the wild cherry. When 

 the thistle-down is floating, every patch of thistles holds 

 a pigeon ; and as soon as the wattle-trees drop their seed, 

 you will surely find the pigeon at the foot of them ; in 

 fact, you may look for pigeons in the wattles at all times. 

 They breed principally among the honeysuckle and shey 

 oaks ; the nest flat, similar to that of the wood-pigeou 

 at home, in which the female lays two white eggs, and 

 the old cock-bird takes his turn at sitting. I once found 

 a nest with eggs as late as February 4th ; but I fancy 

 this was a second clutch : not that I think the pigeon 

 breeds more than once in the year, but, like the partridge 

 at home, when the first clutch of eggs is destroyed, the 

 old female lays a second. By the end of January, tho 

 young birds are strong fliers, and large flocks of pigeons 

 then congregate in some favourite localities, previous to 

 leaving ; but where they go, or from whence they come to 



