CHAPTER VI. 
THE WOOD PIGEON 
(Golumba palumbus). 
“ .... In answer cooed the cushat dove 
Her notes of peace, and rest, and love.” 
Scott, 
The Wood Pigeon is the largest of our indigenous 
Pigeons. It is scarcely smaller than a Pullet, being 
from seventeen to eighteen inches long, by from thirty to 
thirty-two inches across the wings, besides which, it is a 
beautiful and stately creature. The white bars on the 
wings, and white crescent round the neck, distinguish it 
from all our other native Pigeons; a knowledge of its 
habits does not allow of its being confounded with any 
other. It inhabits Northern Europe and Asia, as far as 
the arctic circle; mountain and plain, pine forest and green¬ 
wood, are alike frequented, though it seems perhaps to 
prefer the latter. It is not unfrequently found in copses, 
large gardens, shrubberies, and, as we have before stated, 
it even enters our very towns. With us it is a true migrant, 
whereas in the south of Europe it is only partially so. 
Unperceived, it reaches us in March, remaining in our 
woods until August, or even September; after which it 
roams about in small flocks, gathers together in larger 
bands, and then goes southwards, where it passes the 
