144 
WOOD PIGEON. 
troops. Its food consists of grain of all kinds, pulse, 
acorns, beechmast, &c., and like the cushat, when 
pressed by hunger, it frequently resorts to the tur- 
nip fields to devour the tender leaves and tops of 
that plant. Its flesh by Temminck is said to be of 
exquisite flavour, and far superior to that of the ring 
pigeon, but this perhaps may only be at certain pe- 
riods, and when feeding upon some peculiar food. 
Near as it approaches the common pigeon in size 
and form, no mixed breed that we are aware of has 
ever been obtained between them, although repeated 
attempts to effect an intercourse have been made. 
This in our mind appears a strong and convincing 
proof, that all the varieties, generally known by the 
name of Fancy Pigeons, have originated from one 
and the same stock, and not from crosses with other 
species, as some have supposed, the produce of 
which, even could it be occasionally obtained, we 
have no doubt w'ould prove to be barren, or what 
are generally termed mules. 
In length the Wood Pigeon measures about four- 
teen inches, and in extent of wing nearly twenty-six. 
The head, cheeks, and throat, are pale bluish-grey. 
The feathers upon the sides and back part of the 
neck imbricated, of a fine green, changing into pur- 
ple, or bronzed green in different lights. The lower 
part of the foreneck and breast are pale vinous, or 
purplish grey, passing into pale grey, which colour 
obtains over all the lower parts of the body. The 
mantle and scapulars are grey, with a brownish 
