THE RINGDOVE. 



147 



kaves are said to impart a rank and disagreeable 

 taste to the flesh of the bird ; but this is easily pre- 

 vented by cutting open the crop, as soon as the 

 pigeon is killed, and discharging the contents. 

 White of Selborne recommends this process. To- 

 wards the evening the form of the ringdove becomes 

 considerably changed. Having fed on the turnip 

 tops during the course of the day, its crop gets so 

 distended with food, that it gives to the fore part of 

 the pigeon's body a very full appearance ; and this 

 is easily discerned as the bird passes over your 

 head to its evening retreat. The contents of the 

 stomach having been digested during the night, we 

 observe that the body has regained its ordinary 

 proportions at the break of day. 



There has been a great increase of ringdoves 

 during the winter season, in this part of the country, 

 since the farmers have paid so much attention to 

 the cultivation of turnips. On seeing the congre- 

 gated numbers of these birds, one is led to imagine 

 that there must be an annual influx of them, at the 

 close of autumn, from some far distant part. As 

 the ringdove is an unprotected bird, and much 

 sought after on account of the delicacy of its flesh, 

 I have strong doubts whether our breeding season 

 can produce a sufficient supply to make up the 

 flocks which are seen here in winter. At all events, 

 in this quarter of Yorkshire, very fev/ young ring- 

 doves are allowed to escape. Farmers and game- 

 keepers are ever on the look-out to transfer them 

 from the nest to the kitchen. These marauders are 

 so perpetually on the watch, that it has never yet 

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