RINGED DOVE, OR CUSHAT. 267 



dovecot Pigeons, with which it constantly remained several 

 months, except on one occasion, when it flew oft' to a consider- 

 able distance, but returned, to my surprise, after an absence of 

 a few hours. It found some difficulty in keeping up, on the 

 wing, with the tame pigeons, several of wdiich were tumblers, 

 as wild pigeons are not accustomed to turn rapidly and fre- 

 quently in the air. This bird sickened and died after I had 

 possessed it six months, and I have not since had an oppor- 

 tunity of renewing the experiment ; but doubt not it would 

 succeed with common care.'' 



