318 Columbidce. 



but the Wiltshire labourers invariably call it, in our fine provincial 

 dialect, the ' Quisty.' It may readily be distinguished from its 

 congeners by the white feathers which partially encircle its neck, 

 and are very conspicuous, hence the specific name in English and 

 other languages ; in Germany, Ringel Taube ; in Spain, Paloma- 

 torcaz ; in Portugal, Pombo-trocaz ; in Sweden, Ring-Dufva ; 

 but in France it is Colombe-ramier, and in Italy Columbaccio. 

 Professor Skeat says that the real meaning of ' Dove ' is ' a diver/ 

 During the autumn beech-mast and acorns form the principal 

 part of its diet, when its flesh is highly esteemed for the table ; 

 but no sooner does severe weather compel it to subsist on 

 the tops of turnips, than it becomes strong and rank and uneat- 

 able. Mr. Cordeaux says that it is remarkably partial to salt, 

 and that in his neighbourhood on the East Coast of England, 

 it frequents the drams in the salt-marsh for the purpose of drink- 

 ing the brackish water left by the tide.* It is abundant through- 

 out the county, and, except when breeding, is proverbially wild 

 and shy. It lives with us throughout the year, and congregates 

 in winter in large flocks, which frequent the open stubble-fields of 

 our downs, as well as the pasture-lands of the vales. Moreover, it 

 has increased very much in numbers of late, for the hawks which 

 used to persecute it are well-nigh exterminated by the game- 

 keepers, and large additions are made to its ranks every autumn 

 by the migration of vast flocks from the Continent. When it 

 retires to the plantations to breed in early spring, its soft musical 

 cooing note coo-coo-roo-o-o-o, is a complacent sound to which all 

 listen with delight. The nest is of the flimsiest character, and looks 

 a most insecure receptacle for eggs or young, for it is composed of 

 such scanty material that its contents may often be seen through 

 it from below. Our fellow-countryman, Montagu, gives the 

 following curious legend regarding it : ' The Magpie once under- 

 took to teach the Pigeon how to build a more substantial 

 and commodious dwelling ; but, instead of being a docile pupil, 

 the Pigeon kept on repeating her old cry of " Take two, Taffy, 

 take two !" The Magpie insisted that this was a very unwork- 

 ' Birds of the Humber District,' p. 77. 



