Birds, 371 



ed the accuracy of these views. Assembling in countless flocks in 

 winter, they forage in the stubbles until the grain is exhausted, when 

 they attack the leaves of the young winter wheat, the Swedish turnip, 

 the red clover or trefoil ; the latter, when it is not killed, as is often 

 the case, suffering most from its ravages. A small party will now and 

 then visit the stack-yard in quest of beans or pease, even until late in 

 the spring. When the pea and the tare appear above ground, they 

 are attacked with fatal severity; and no sooner has the valuable 

 Swedish turnip put forth its second pair of leaves, and just escaped 

 the ravages of the turnip-flea beetle {Haltica nemorum), than it is 

 speedily stripped of everything but the bare stalk by this greedy bird. 

 When the fields assume the golden tints of autumn, they once more 

 assemble in vast flocks, and ravage the crops of wheat, oats and bar- 

 ley, the two former being preferred to the latter ; unless the beans, 

 tares and pease ripen before they are cut down, which rarely happens, 

 they are safe for a season. The cultivated legumes appear to be their 

 favourite food. Before the crops are reaped, these birds seek out 

 some portion which has been laid or bent, always, where practicable, 

 keeping near a hedge-row, or trees, or a plantation. To this place 

 they will return day after day, even although they are repeatedly dri- 

 ven off", when they become exceedingly shy and vigilant, rising simul- 

 taneously from the corn on hearing the least noise, and either alighting 

 on the hedge-row, or on a neighbouring tree, or fly off* to some dis- 

 tance. Where the corn-stalks are not sufficiently bent to allow them 

 ready access to the ear, they alight amongst them in a peculiar way, 

 so as to obtain the end in view. Like all other granivorous birds, 

 they eat wheat which has been steeped in a strong solution of brine 

 previously to sowing, with much relish ; indeed I am almost entitled 

 to assert that this pigeon gives it the preference. During the dead 

 months they feed and roost together in large flocks, but at other sea- 

 sons the flocks consist of an aggregate number of individuals, liable 

 to be dispersed by the least noise. It is one of the prettiest sights I 

 know of, to mark the gradual formation of these assemblies ; now, as 

 they leave the upland woods, they advance on rapid whistling pinions, 

 and anon, with outstretched wings, describing those graceful risings 

 and fallings for which their flight is remarkable. 



The ringdove is undoubtedly the most destructive bird to the inte- 

 rests of the British farmer : and it would be well if active steps were 

 taken to reduce their numbers : but I cannot dismiss its history with- 

 out doing justice to its merits, which seem to have been overlooked by 

 Mr. Waterton, in his delightful ' Essays on Natural History.' Often 



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