Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/399

Rh ed the accuracy of these views. Assembling in countless flocks in winter, they forage in the stubbles until the grain is exhausted, when they attack the leaves of the young winter wheat, the Swedish turnip, the red clover or trefoil; the latter, when it is not killed, as is often the case, suffering most from its ravages. A small party will now and then visit the stack-yard in quest of beans or pease, even until late in the spring. When the pea and the tare appear above ground, they are attacked with fatal severity; and no sooner has the valuable Swedish turnip put forth its second pair of leaves, and just escaped the ravages of the turnip-flea beetle (Haltica nemorum), than it is speedily stripped of everything but the bare stalk by this greedy bird. When the fields assume the golden tints of autumn, they once more assemble in vast flocks, and ravage the crops of wheat, oats and barley, the two former being preferred to the latter; unless the beans, tares and pease ripen before they are cut down, which rarely happens, they are safe for a season. The cultivated legumes appear to be their favourite food. Before the crops are reaped, these birds seek out some portion which has been laid or bent, always, where practicable, keeping near a hedge-row, or trees, or a plantation. To this place they will return day after day, even although they are repeatedly driven off, when they become exceedingly shy and vigilant, rising simultaneously from the com on hearing the least noise, and either alighting on the hedge-row, or on a neighbouring tree, or fly off to some distance. Where the corn-stalks are not sufficiently bent to allow them ready access to the ear, they alight amongst them in a peculiar way, so as to obtain the end in view. Like all other granivorous birds, they eat wheat which has been steeped in a strong solution of brine previously to sowing, with much relish; indeed I am almost entitled to assert that this pigeon gives it the preference. During the dead months they feed and roost together in large flocks, but at other seasons the flocks consist of an aggregate number of individuals, liable to be dispersed by the least noise. It is one of the prettiest sights I know of, to mark the gradual formation of these assemblies; now, as they leave the upland woods, they advance on rapid whistling pinions, and anon, with outstretched wings, describing those graceful risings and fallings for which their flight is remarkable.

The ringdove is undoubtedly the most destructive bird to the interests of the British farmer: and it would be well if active steps were taken to reduce their numbers: but I cannot dismiss its history without doing justice to its merits, which seem to have been overlooked by Mr. Waterton, in his delightful 'Essays on Natural History.' Often