2768 The Zoologist — September, 1871. 



[It is much to be regretted that those who make such careful and useful 

 observations as this do not give their names at length : it would add much 

 to the interest of their communications. — E. Newman.] 



Food of the Wood Pigeon. — The influence of few birds upon our crops 

 has been made a warmer subject of debate than that of the wood pigeon, 

 the Columba palumbus of naturalists, the " queest " or " cushat " of our 

 vernacular. According to one set of writers, it is one of the most destruc- 

 tive of all birds to the agriculturist ; according to others, one of the most 

 beneficial. It is so much more pleasant and easy to wrangle and dispute, 

 to fight for victory rather than for truth, that we can hardly expect the 

 combatants to have recoui'se to the observation of facts to settle the question, 

 for surely the question could be settled by observing the food of the bird, 

 not at one time only, but during the several seasons of the year. I feel 

 therefore under obligations to E. L., who has forwarded the following 

 letter ; — " Sir, — I saw a short time ago a letter in your columns from W. C. 

 (Dumbartonshire), in which he speaks of the nesting season as the proper 

 time for destroying wood pigeons, and he seems to join in the common cry 

 against them. I know the destructive powei's they possess well enough, 

 but I know also that at this season they do much good, and have taken the 

 liberty of sending the contents of the crop of the first I could procure, with 

 the request that Mr. Tegetmeier will kindly tell us what it consists of." — 

 E. L. : Litchfield. In reply to a letter of inquiry, some further particulars 

 have been since furnished by the writer, who informs me that " The contents 

 of the crop of the pigeon I sent you were not taken for bulk ; I have no 

 doubt there was half a good-sized wine-glass more; therefore, in counting, 

 you must not lose sight of that fact. Pigeons abound on my laud. Many 

 hundreds are shot every year, and there are most just complaints against 

 them ; but I observe nature rather more closely than my tenants, whom 

 I have just stopped shooting them for a time, except on the pea-fields. 

 Tliey say they are eating the corn (wheat) ; I say they are doing incalculable 

 good, and not touching anything hut weeds, and, to prove it, went out and 

 shot one, and sent about three parts the contents of the crop to you. 

 I shall be very glad indeed to see your remarks ; and if you take any 

 further interest in the matter, and will write to me at the above address, 

 I will send to my keeper to go at once and shoot three or four after 

 feeding time, and he shall forward them to yon just as they are killed." 

 As I have taken upon myself the duty of merely stating facts, I will simply 

 name the contents of the crop of this one bird, or at least that portion of 

 the contents forwarded to me. They consisted of two whole acorns, five 

 halves of acorns, 2IV-ili seeds, or carpels, of the common buttercup {Ranun- 

 culus hitlhosus or acris), 771 capsules or seed-vessels of the common chick- 

 weed, containing on an average more than ten seeds each, and therefore 

 giving at least 7710 seeds of chickweed {Stellaria media), making a 



