160 WOOD PIGEON. 
had been placed; she was possibly as strange to them as their 
unknown language was to her. 
Its flight, though rather slow at times, is on occasion strong, 
swift, straight, and powerful, the pinions sounding as it cuts 
the air, the result of repeated strong and regular flappings 
of the wings, and generally at a considerable height in the 
air, unless the wind be very high. On the ground it moves 
in an easy and graceful manner, now walking more erect, 
and nodding the head at every step, now in a lower position, 
and now peering about in suspicion of any approach of 
danger. It roosts near the tops of the tallest trees 1t can 
resort to, and comes home for that purpose about sunset, 
leaving them again at sunrise for the fields. Before settling 
they usually wheel about the spot where they desire to alight, 
and if disturbed from it, fly off to a short distance and then 
return, but if more frequently alarmed move away. ‘In fine 
weather they bask in the sun on dry banks, or in the open 
fields, rubbing themselves, and, as it were, burrowing in the 
sand or soil, and throwing it up with their wings, as if 
washing in water, which they often do, like most birds. In 
drinking they immerse the bill to the hase, and take a long 
draught.’ 
On arriving at a feeding place, they alight suddenly, and 
generally stand for a short time to reconnoitre. While 
searching for food the body is depressed, and they walk 
quickly along, moving the head backwards and forwards. ‘The 
flock disperse about, but keep out of the way of danger. 
The Wood Pigeon feeds on grain in all its stages—wheat, 
barley, and oats, peas, beans, vetches, and acorns, beech-mast, 
the seeds of fir cones and wild mustard, charlock, ragweed, 
and other seeds, green clover, grasses, small esculent roots, 
ivy and other berries, and in the winter on turnip leaves 
and their roots in hard weather—the first-named are all 
swallowed whole. It may safely be said that any damage it 
does, and some it must be confessed is done by it among 
seed tares, and pea fields, is abundantly compensated by the 
good that it effects in the destruction of the seeds of in- 
jurious plants. Even the larger ones that they eat are swallowed 
whole. 
The well-known note of the Cushat—its soft ‘coo, coo-coo, 
e00-coo,’ begun sometimes towards the latter end of February, 
and continued till October, always harmonizes well with every 
quiet rural scene; and pleasant 14 is to listen to the plaintive 
