He did not cease, but cooed and cooed, 

 And somewhat pensively he wooed ; 

 He sung of love with quiet blending. 

 Slow to begin, and never ending; 

 Of serious faith and inward glee ; 

 That was the song — the song for me." 



Wood-pigeons have immense appetites, and, being fond of 

 all kinds of grain, as well as peas and beans, are looked upon 

 b}' the farmer with great disfavour. They are, however, fond 

 of some of those very weeds which are his greatest annoyance 

 — for instance, charlock and wild mustard ; so that they do him 

 some good in return for the tribute which they take of his 

 crops. They are fond, also, both of young clover and the 

 3'oung green leaves of the turnip, as well as of the turnip itself 

 Either by instinct or experience, they have learned that, feed- 

 ing thus in cultivated fields, they are doing that which will 

 bring down upon them the displeasure of man. " They keep," 

 says the intelligent author of "Wild Sports in the Highlands," 

 "when feeding in the fields, in the most open and exposed 

 places, so as to allow no enemy to come near them. It is 

 amusing to watch a large flock of these birds whilst searching 

 the ground for grain. They walk in a compact body ; and in 

 order that all may fare alike — which is certainly a good trait in 

 their character — the hindermost rank, every now and then, fly 

 over the heads of their companions to the front, where they 

 keep the best place for a minute or two, till those now in the 

 rear take their place. They keep up this kind of fair play dur- 

 ing the whole time of feeding. They feed, also, on wild fruit 

 and all kinds of wild berries, such as the mountain-ash, and 

 ivy ; and where acorns abound, seem to prefer them to any- 



