COLUMBID^. 251 



Five specimens of the American Passenger-Pigeon have 

 been shot at large in the British Islands, and the species 

 has, accordingly, by some authors been included in the 

 British list ; but, as it has been largely imported from 

 America, it is doubtful if the individuals thus obtained 

 really occurred in a wild state, and the species is not 

 admitted as British by Mr. Howard Saunders in his 

 ' Manual of British Birds.' It has never been met with in 

 any of the Western Counties. This singular Pigeon is 

 stated to be one among a few species of American birds 

 which are rapidly becoming extinct. 



Ring-Dove. Columla ^alumhus, Linn. 



["Wild Pigeon, Wood-Pigeon, Culver : jDtv.] 



Piesident, abundant and generally distributed in wooded districts 

 throughout the county. This fine Pigeon is to be seen everywhere in the 

 S.AY. of England, except upon the moors, and receives large reinforcements 

 to its numbers in the winter months from flocks migrating from the east. 

 Unfortunately, it is the most destructive bird to agriculturists of all upon the 

 British list, and there is hardly a month in the year when it is not doing 

 injury to the crops, and its mischief is but slightly counterbalanced by 

 any good it does in feeding upon the seeds of noxious weeds, such as 

 charlock, &c. It also multiplies at a great rate, generally having three 

 broods in the year, and, being a very wary bird, it is not easily kept 

 under. The Ping-Dove begins to make its nest as early as February, in 

 mild seasons, a fir-plantation affording the favourite site ; and we have 

 found callow nestlings near Hatherlcigh as late as the middle of October. 

 Owing to the destniction by Iceepers of the Sparrow-Hawk, which largely 

 preys upon the Pi)ig-Dove, this mischievous bird has greatly increased, 

 and is still increasing, throughout the kingdom. In the spring and 

 summer, when we were lads, we used to mark the diff'erent Wood-Pigeons' 

 nests in our immediate neighbourhood, and when the young were nearly 

 fledged, took them from the nost, and kept tlicm for a time in hutches, 

 fattening them on barley meal. The next process was to hand tliem over 

 to the cook, who made them into a delicious pio. Througliout tho 

 autumn and winter the flesh of the King-Dove is very good eating, but 

 it is dry at the time the birds arc stealing grain from the ripening corn- 

 fields, and is not worth much in severe frosts when turnips have fornitd 

 their food. A friend once furnished us with an excellent recipe for 

 cooking a Wood- Pigeon so as to imitate a "Woodcock, whicli, from ex- 

 perience, we can strongly recommend. The Pigeon, after hanging a few 



