Rinc-Dove. COLUMBA. COLUMBA. 289 
cibly into contact as to be heard at a considerable distance. 
This mode of flight is confined to the male bird. 
The Cushat usually produces two or three broods in the 
course of the year, but never more than two young birds at 
the same hatching.— The nest is wide and shallow formed of Nest, &c. 
small twigs loosely put together, and placed in an upper fork, 
er amidst the close branches of some moderately tall tree, 
those of the fir tribe being chiefly preferred ; and the ivy 
encircling them, or creeping over the face of rocks, is not un- 
frequently selected for its site. ‘The eggs, two in number, 
are of an oval form, and white. Both sexes sit alternately 
upon them, and the young are fed from the macerated cone 
tents of the parents’ craw. In winter these birds assemble in 
very numerous flocks, resorting, during open weather, to the 
stubble-lands; at which time their flesh is excellent, strongly 
resembling, and being little inferior to, that of the grous (‘Te- 
trao Scoticus) for the table. 
As severe weather advances, and the ground becomes co- 
-vered with snow, they are obliged to subsist on the tops of 
turnip, rape, and other cruciform plants of the same family, 
as well as on holly berries; which diet soon renders their 
flesh strong and unpalatable. At this season they roost to- 
gether in large woods, preferring those which abound in fir, 
or lofty ash trees, the stiff branches of which offer both a firm 
and horizontal perch during the hours of repose. 
The Cushat feeds upon all kinds of grain, and is particu- Food. 
larly fond of pease and the other leguminous plants. In the 
south of England, where beech-mast and acorns are abun- 
dant, these form its principal support during the autumn, 
and, from the weak texture of its bill, itis compelled to swal- 
low them whole. 
Many attempts have been made to domesticate this species, 
but without success *; for, although they may be rendered 
“ See Monracu’s description of this bird in the first volume of the 
Ornithological Dictionary. 
T 
