WOOD PIGEON. 
143 
genous, but its distribution is much more limited in 
extent, being confined to the southern and midland 
counties of England, and to such districts only as 
are well clothed with wood ; for, possessing arboreal 
habits, it is never found inhabiting those localities 
affected by the Columba livia (rock pigeon), such 
as the caveiTis of rocks, ruinous edifices, &c. Du- 
ring the spring and summer, it is distributed in pairs 
throughout the woods, where it breeds, sometimes in 
the decayed hollows of the ivy-mantled trunks, at 
others on the forks or amidst the higher branches of 
the trees. The nest is similar to that of the ring 
pigeon, and its two white eggs, though inferior in 
size, present the same oblong form. Two broods 
are annually produced, the first in spring, the se- 
cond after midsummer, a period of rest or recruiting 
of the vital forces taking place between the end of 
May and the middle of July. As autumn advances, 
the various broods begin to congregate, and soon form 
flocks of great magnitude, which continue assembled 
during the winter, and are sometimes seen com- 
mingled with bodies of their larger congetier the 
cushat. In parts of France, Germany, and the 
northern kingdoms of Europe, it is a migratory spe- 
cies, and a summer or polar visitant, the late au- 
tumnal and winter months being passed in warmer 
latitudes, where a due supply of food can then be 
found. In disposition it shews a timidity and watch- 
fulness equal to that of any other species, particular- 
ly during the winter months, when associated in 
