400 ENGLISH BIRD-LIFE 



longed study of its food habits at all seasons, no satisfac- 

 tory, conclusive opinion of its relations to man can be 

 formed. 



The surprising abundance of Rooks, which were every- 

 where almost as numerous as are our Crows in southern 

 New Jersey in winter, also raised the question of the posi- 

 tion they held in regard to the agricultural industries of the 

 country, but again in the absence of data, no definite answer 

 could be obtained. 



There can be no doubt of the importance of the place 

 Starlings and Rooks occupy in an English landscape. Both 

 are resident throughout the year and in the winter their con- 

 spicuousness is doubtless increased. 



While the English Turtle-Dove may be compared to our 

 Mourning Dove, we have nothing, in eastern North Amer- 

 ica, at least, to take the place of the splendid AVood Pigeon. 

 To an American, the abundance, general distribution, and in 

 places, tameness of so large and, doubtless, so edible a bird, 

 is astonishing. 



They were common wherever the country was at all 

 wooded, and in some of the parks of London, and other 

 cities, they were seen walking about on the lawns as much at 

 home as were their dovecote relatives. It follows, then, that 

 the loud, throaty coo-er-coo, coo-coo of this species aud the 

 purring notes of the Turtle-Dove were rarely wanting from 

 any chorus English bird song. 



Even more surprising than the abundance of the Wood 

 Pigeon was the number of Moorhens observed. The bird is 

 almost a duplicate of our Florida Gallinule but I cannot con- 

 ceive it possible for the latter species to exist in this country 

 under conditions which the English bird finds favorable. 

 Every reedy pond and puddle has one or more pairs, they 

 are common in rivers when there is sufficient bordering vege- 

 tation to give concealment, and they nest regularly in one of 

 London's most frequented parks. 



While it is perhaps natural and desirable that the poets 



