CATCHING WOODPIGEONS 137 



mentioned, like the different plan described in The 

 Field of December 8, 1883, may be tried with 

 advantage by those who, living in parts of the 

 country where these birds are numerous in 

 autumn and winter, may take good toll of the 

 passing flocks. 



Large numbers arrive here from the Continent, 

 particularly in November, The home-bred birds, 

 which begin nesting early in April, and rear 

 several successive broods before September, quit 

 their summer quarters about the end of the latter 

 month, and go southward, always flying head to 

 wind. Mr Abel Chapman, in his Bird-life on the 

 Borders, gives a good account of the Woodpigeons 

 from personal observation of their habits in the 

 north of England. At some seasons, he says, and 

 under certain conditions of weather, large flocks 

 of these birds cross the North Sea, especially in 

 November; but as no great number are bred in 

 Norway, Sweden, or Denmark, it is probable that 

 many of the visitors to England come from Scot- 

 land, merely shifting their quarters in search of 

 food. 



