1908-1909.] j6c 



and regular number of birds was obtained, the actual numbers 

 being 265 Wood-Pigeons, 355 Rooks, 190 Starlings. 



Taking Wood-Pigeons first, 19 were found to be empty, and 

 one was not fit for examination, so that the total number on 

 which the figures are based is ^45. All the crop contents are 

 arranged in five groups, and give the following results : — 



Kind of food. 

 Cereal grains 



No. of times taken 



during the year. 



123 



Per Cent. 

 33 



Leaves ... 





103 



27-5 



Other fruits and seeds 





88 



23 



Roots ... 





3 1 



8-5 



Flowers 





29 



8 



Total 374 100 



The number 374 means that the 245 Wood-Pigeon crops con- 

 tained 374 articles of diet, grains, leaves, fruits, roots, and flowers. 



Another table gives the kind of food in detail, and from it we 

 see that " the bird is a very dainty vegetarian, and at the same 

 time a most dangerous fellow, inasmuch as he attacks and uses 

 the very best of all our crops, the grains of all our cereals, the 

 leaves of all our clovers and turnips, though grass is not good 

 enough for him, the seeds of beans, peas, tares, and clovers, our 

 grass mixtures and so forth. But the bird must have his due, and 

 we must express in figures the number of attacks on crops on the 

 one hand, on weeds on the other. If the balance stands against 

 the Wood-Pigeon to any large extent, we cannot but proclaim 

 him for what he is. 



Part of Plant used. 

 Roots ... 



CROPS. 



No. of times 



taken. 



29 



TREES. 



No. of times 



taken. 



O 



WEEDS. 



No. of times 



taken. 



2 



Leaves ... 



79 



I 



23 



Flowers 







'3 



l6 



Cereal Grains ... 



123 







O 



Other fruits and seeds 



23 



33 



32 



254 47 73 



