WOOD-PIGEON. 
COLUMBA BALVMBUS. 
the following year, while studying farming m as , 
immense gatherings of „ot he denied, though had there been a possibility 
the eouiitless swarms m ^i ous p. f t diseovered 
of elosely watehmg and studym, . “ ; 3 deeds. ' In order to seare the flocks it was the custom m 
that considerable atonement was made fnwlino-.niece and a supply of pow^der; wxe laddies, 
many parts to employ herds armed with some an iqua t' o services 
sons of labourers on the farm, w^ere not unfrequen ^ Thono-h invariably on the alert awaiting 
in protecting the crops from plunder may readi y be estimated. Ih ^ ^Z^vLocions youths, having 
the'^arrival of the Doos- while the farmer or ^ t hares or 
provided themselves with shot, passed most of then time in endeavou , 
Pheasants that strayed from the coverts. rircscnce in the corn-crops of the 
The high standard of farming in this locality does not pen p consequently the 
f»: ti:i: destrucUou appeared to have but slight effect iu 
cheeking the evil ^ „t against these birds by the farmers. , 
and iUstbruft^lt ml of^ 1 sustenance consL of worthless seeds and berries. 
on the chalky downs of Sussex are a favourite resort for this species, and ^ s varyin ^^im ^ 
hundred may occasionally be seen, though, according to my own expenenee, tl e 
this locality in anything approaching the numbers observed in the south of Scotland. S i y 
lod-Cns may oL l seen flying in small parties to the fields of wheat or bar ey ; after ^w heeling 
Zllolhlch wl llsigM o;ro:rd::ls:lte“!st::Lmen^^ rZ who imagined that 
the Zs were in pursuit of grain : on reaching the spot it would be discovered that 
the crop was exceedingly scanty, completely choked, in fact, by a mass of weeds rank and strong, 
wpll ni"h riue. had proved the sole attraction. 
Admail tribute, however, is annually levied on the field-peas shortly before they are carried, and turnip- 
* W’ood- Pigeon 8 are alwaj-s spoken of as Doos by the natives of this district, 
t The farm-bailiff is known by this title in East Lothian. 
