The Wood Pigeon 



each other, and is such a flimsy structure that one would 

 never imagine it capahle of forming an efficient nursery for 

 so large a bird. Two eggs only are laid, which, as with all 

 Pigeons, are pure white. Two or three broods are often 

 reared in the season, both sexes taking their turn at in- 

 cubation and rearing the young. 



Pigeons when first hatched are covered with coarse 

 yellowish down and are very helpless ; they are fed for the 

 first ten days on a sort of soft curd known as Pigeon's milk, 

 which is secreted in the crop, or is, as has been stated, the 

 secretion of two glands placed on each side near the crop, 

 but this latter point requires confirmation. They are fed 

 by regurgitation, the young bird inserting its beak into that 

 - of the parent. 



The note of the Wood Pigeon is a soft melodious " cooroo, 

 coo, coo." When courting he expands his tail, blows out his 

 crop, and holding his head high in the air utters his coo ; 

 he then bows, and raises his expanded tail. His hen, who 

 usually shows but little enthusiasm over the display, has 

 probably moved a little farther off, and the display ends 

 with an awkward hop towards her. 



The flight is rapid and sustained, but in the nesting 

 season, and occasionally at other times, an upward soaring 

 flight is indulged in over their nesting home. Its food con- 

 sists chiefly of grain, seeds, beechmast, and acorns ; but at 

 certain seasons, especially when the snow is on the ground, 

 large quantities of green food are eaten, tender turnip tops 

 being much sought after. 



The adult is a delicate bluish grey all over, having a 

 violet green metallic patch on the sides of the neck, bounded 



269 



