24 INDIAi^ PIGEONS AND DOVES 



green bird sitting like a wooden figure — ^you fire and two fall, and a 

 dozen fly off. If you are as other men, you will probably utter loud 

 and naughty words, for if you had known there were so many birds 

 you might easily have had a second shot at them as they flew. But 

 if you are wise, you will rule your spirit and be still, for there may be 

 a score of Pigeons in the tree yet, and others will come in small parties 

 from time to time, so that, with patience, you may make a very 

 respectable bag before the feeding-hour is over. Then remorse will 

 have its turn, perhaps, as you gather up the fallen, and see what 

 loveliness you have destroyed for the sake of your stomach." 



It is extremely common in Mysore, where however it appears 

 to be locally migratory, not visiting the hills until after the rains, and 

 presumably breeding lower down and in the plains Taylor says that 

 they were so plentiful that one evening he shot forty-six, and on one 

 occasion got eleven and seven respectively to his first and second 

 barrels, showing that they must have been in very large and densely 

 flying flocks. 



