THE WOOD PIGEON IN LONDON 
85 
had I been “ caught,” save that of taking a short cut to save 
time, which perhaps would not have weighed much with Mr. 
or the magistrates at Henley ; so, like the gentleman in the 
“ Pilgrim’s Progress,” I went on my way. 
March, 1900. Richard R. V. 
THE WOOD PIGEON IN LONDON. 
URING the last few years it has been observed, by 
those who take their walks in Kensington Gardens 
and Regent’s Park, that various kinds of birds, which 
formerly were only to be met with in wooded country 
districts, have come and made for themselves a permanent home 
in London. The wary and unapproachable wood pigeon, whose 
cooing is so pleasantly associated with sylvan scenery far remote 
from the din of towns, can now be heard in the centre of the 
metropolis, and it has become so perfectly tolerant of its new 
surroundings that it roosts in trees and takes its food quite close 
to people, and shows no fear at their presence. This is a 
remarkable change in the disposition of a bird which hitherto 
has been so difficult to approach, persecuted as it has been by 
amateur sportsmen who find a ready sale for it as an article of 
food, and who are encouraged in many parts of the country by 
farmers’ clubs which have been established for the express 
purpose of destroying it, and which offer a small sum of 
money for the head of every pigeon killed within the area of 
their operations. Farmers who have adopted this course have 
not been actuated by a feeling of malignity specially directed 
against the wood pigeon, but have had to resort to it in pure 
self-defence and in order to save their crops of wheat, barley 
and turnips, from the havoc they are known to work. Another 
reason, however, may be found^ in the diminished supply of food 
for such birds as live on grain, in consequence of a large extent 
of land in the neighbourhood of London having in recent times 
ceased to be ploughed and come to be used for pasturage and 
hay crops. But whatever may be the causes which have sent 
the wood pigeon into the metropolitan parks, here he is and he 
shows every intention of having come to stay. That he is 
satisfied with the welcome and security offered him is evident 
from his suffering pedestrians to come close to the trees on 
which he perches, and affords a striking contrast to his kindred in 
the country which fly from the approach of man as if only evil 
can come of it. But it is not only in the Parks that the wood 
pigeon is content to dwell, as an instance of its recently 
developed tameness which has just come under the writer’s 
observation will show. 
Three years ago a pair of these birds began to visit the lawn 
