As the music begins to stop and die away, the pigeons should return to their dovecote, and when the last note sounds they should all be settled again. The farmer's boy now runs round the ring, closing it in and making all safe for the night.
This game can be played without music, and the elder children can take their turn at being pigeons.
Oats and Beans and Barley
All the children form a ring with the exception of one player, who stands in the center. The children then dance round this one, singing the first three lines of the verses given below. At the fourth line they stop dancing and act the words that are sung. They pretend to scatter seed; they stand at ease, stamp their feet, clap their hands, and at the words: "Turn him round," each child turns round.
They then again clap hands and dance round, and when the words, "Open the ring and take one in," are sung, the center child chooses a partner, who steps into the ring, and the two stand together while the other children sing the remaining verse, after which the child who was first in the center joins the ring and the game is continued as before.
"Oats and beans and barley O!
Do you or I or any one know
How oats and beans and barley grow?
"First the farmer sows his seed,