. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. WOOD PIGEONS. 449 witli bluish, green, and rose-coloured reflections. They are spread throughout all Europe, but chiefly in warm and tem- perate parts. They are very common in France, where they arrive in numerous flocks early in March, generally departing in October or November to pass the winter in more hospitable climates. At the time of their passage the Alpine and Pyrenean hunters destroy them in large quantities. The Wood Pigeons or Cushats
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. WOOD PIGEONS. 449 witli bluish, green, and rose-coloured reflections. They are spread throughout all Europe, but chiefly in warm and tem- perate parts. They are very common in France, where they arrive in numerous flocks early in March, generally departing in October or November to pass the winter in more hospitable climates. At the time of their passage the Alpine and Pyrenean hunters destroy them in large quantities. The Wood Pigeons or Cushats inhabit forests, and delight among the branches of large trees. They feed upon acorns and beech- nuts, and are very partial to cherries and strawberries. With the farmers this bird is far from a favourite, for its appetite is insatiable, and it is alike destructive to grain in the ear or ger- minating. They build their nests in lofty trees. The female, after having chosen a place, forms the nest out of materials which the male brings her, such as little dead branches which it detaches from trees by the aid of its feet or beak ; it never picks up the boughs which strew the ground. This nest is but a rude shelter, scarcely large enough to contain the young, and sometimes falls â to pieces before they are able to fly; in this case the brood re- tains, if possible, a position on the large branches which sup- Kg i82âiiiu vvuuduiBmKVigeoiucutoiiia ported their previous dwelling. " ' ^ ' Queests, as they are frequently called, generally lay in March and August. Incubation lasts twelve days, and the young can take flight about two weeks afterwards. During all the time of the incubation and education of the young the male remains near the female, constantly cooing, as if to break the monotony of her occupation. In the wild state Eing Pigeons are distrustful and difficult of approach, but their characters become modified by domestication, or even by an independent life passed ia
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles
