WOOD PIGEON. 159 
devoured her young ones. Her repeated losses at length 
induced her to rebuild her nest in another part of the loft, 
where a cat was raising three kittens, with whom she contrived 
to form a strong friendship. They fed from the same dish, 
and when the cat went out into the field, the Pigeon was 
often observed to be fluttering near her. The Pigeon, aware 
of the advantage of her protection, had placed her nest close 
to the straw bed of the cat, and there in safety reared two 
broods of young ones; and, in return for the protection she 
experienced from the cat, she became a defender of the young 
kittens, and would often attack with beak and wings any 
person approaching too near.’ 
In a Scotch paper for February 13th., 1838, 16 is stated, 
“A circumstance, perhaps unprecedented in the annals of 
freezing, was discovered here last week. A person found in 
this neighbourhood, (Crieff,) a Wild Pigeon literally frozen 
to the branch of a tree, and so intense was the freeze, that 
the individual cut the branch, and carried the Pigeon home 
in that state alive.’ 
‘If the habits, says Meyer, ‘of the Wood Pigeon are 
accurately observed, it will be seen that it leads a very 
regular life, and that it divides the day after the following 
manner:—From six to nine in the morning the time is 
occupied in searching for food. About ten o’clock the whole 
party returns home, and may be heard calling their ‘hoo, 
hoo, coo, coo, hoo.’ At eleven the calling ceases, and the 
party is again off in search of drink, and probably also to 
bathe, as we know them particularly to delight in the latter 
exercise. From twelve to two is again set apart as a season 
for resting, after which they go to feed until five; then return 
to their wood, where they repeat their concert until seven, 
when, after having taken some more water, they retire to 
roost.’ ‘This, however, cannot apply to the winter portion of 
the year. 
Wood Pigeons are often seen in vast flocks, as well as in 
smaller ones, and some will occasionally intermingle with tame 
Pigeons in a field. Several pairs will frequently build near 
each other, as if in this respect of gregarious habits, but 
single nests shew also that it is not the universal rule. The 
young birds, no doubt ‘in terrorem’ both active and passive, 
swell out their necks if approached, and utter a pufling sort 
of sound. This in one imstance was known to alarm and 
frighten away a foster tame Pigeon, under whom the eggs 
