RING DOVE 
231 
young trout and salmon, and, like the Goosander, 
this bird is held in a good deal of detestation by 
fishermen accordingly. 
RING DOVE 
{Columha palumbus.') 
Wood Pigeon, Cushat, Queest, or Quist. — One 
of the best-known birds in all parts of the country, 
and one which visits us in winter in enormous 
flocks from the Continent, doing a great amount 
of damage to green crops, and especially to fields 
of swedes and turnips. The Ring Dove also feeds 
very largely on grain, seeds of many kinds, and 
beech-nuts and acorns. Even as a breeding species 
its numbers have greatly increased in many districts 
in recent years, and this is without doubt due in 
great measure to the destruction of more than one 
species of Hawk which formerly helped to keep the 
numbers of Pigeons within reasonable bounds. This 
is the largest of the British Pigeons, and the 
difference in size alone is generally sufficient to 
distinguish it from the Stock Dove, which is often 
confused with it. But an unfailing means of 
recognising the Ring Dove in flight is the con- 
spicuous white patch which it then shows on each 
wing ; while at close quarters it can also be recog- 
nised with equal certainty by the white " ring " on 
