BRITISH WILD PIGEONS. 29 



by these birds may be guessed at, especially 

 when it is remembered that they feed three 

 times daily. The causes which contribute to 

 swell the number of wild pigeons in this country 

 are well known. More green crops are now 

 grown for winter use than formerly ; and 

 thus food is provided during a period of the 

 year when in times past it was unattainable. 

 Then the economy of fir or spruce plantations 

 is better understood, and these afford pre- 

 cisely the harbour which the wood-pigeon loves 



best. 



For eight months of the year the Ring-dove 

 is gregarious. After the last young are 

 hatched, the birds begin to flock, as the farmer 

 discovers, about the time of the ripening of 

 the corn. Often the grain stooks swarm with 

 them, and they rise in clouds as they are 

 driven from the fields. Early in autumn num- 

 bers are killed. They soon become shy, and 

 then few birds are so wary or so difficult of 

 approach. After the garnering of the grain, 

 pigeons have another great harvest in beech- 

 mast and acorns. For the most part the 

 " pannage " is picked from the ground, but 

 sometimes the birds fly up into the trees and 



