THE RINGDOVB. 
147 
leaves 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 vip 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 tlie watch, that it has never yet 
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