CHAPTER LXXYIII. 



; The Ring-dove. 



Columha Paluiiibus, Lin. ; Le Ramier, Buf. 



Description and Charactee. — The Eing-dove, most com- 

 monly called the Cushat, or Wood Pigeon, is probably known 

 to every sportsman throughout the United Kingdom. It is 

 the largest of the British species, but very difficult to reconcile 

 to a state of domestication. Many instances have been known 

 of young birds of this species, although reared in a dovecote, 

 flying away, on the advent of spring, to their native woodlands, 

 never again to return to their birthplace and companions ; thus 

 clearly showing that with them instinct is stronger than the 

 ties of friendship. 



A fully-grown specimen is 17^in. in length, the tail measur- 

 ing Tin. The breadth, from tip to tip of wings, is 29in. ; and 

 the weight, from 16oz. to 20oz. The bill is ^in. in length, orange 

 brown, with a grey base, which surrounds the upper mandible, 

 forming a sort of wattle. The head, cheeks, throat, fore and side 

 neck, rump, tail coverts, and upper portion of the tail, are bluish 

 grey, being darkest about the head and palest on the rump 

 and tail ; the back and wing coverts are pale bluish slate 

 colour, with a slight tinge of vinous red intermixed ; the hind 

 neck is slate colour and emerald green, with a reddish purple 

 irradiance pervading the feathers ; on each side of the neck 

 is a crescent-shaped spot of white, the feathers forming this 

 distinctive mark being emerald green at the base, with broad 

 white borders ; the primary feathers (ten in number) are dusky 

 grey or blackish slate colour, bordered with white on the outer 



