278 COLUMBA LIVIA. 



*' In Dunrossness flocks of many hundreds are frequently 

 seen feeding on the fields, and many of these flocks in sight at 

 the same time. A gentleman lately killed at one shot twenty- 

 seven, besides wounding many that escaped. It takes a heavy 

 shot to kill Pigeons, and so tenacious are they of life that the 

 sportsman frequently observes them flying off so desperately 

 wounded that their entrails are hanging through the wound. 



" These birds appear to be regulated with regard to their 

 time of breeding, according to the scarcity or abundance of food 

 which the seasons supply. In spring, when they have plenty 

 of corn to pick from the newly sown fields, they begin to get 

 fat, and pair ; and again, in harvest, when the corn is cut 

 do^^^l. They flock twice in the year, first in August or Sep- 

 tember, and again in winter. That their breeding depends 

 much on their having plenty of food to fatten them, seems, I 

 think, evident from the circumstance that, when tamed, w^hich 

 they easily are, they are observed to breed in every month of 

 the year. I do not mean that the same pair will breed every 

 month ; but some in the flock, if well fed, will breed at any 

 season. It is a popular notion that Pigeons breed every month 

 but February ; but this is an error. The same pair when 

 tamed generally breed four times ; and so great is their fecun- 

 dity that they are frequently seen sitting on eggs long before 

 the former brood is able to leave the nest, so that the parent 

 bird has at the sametime young birds and eggs to take care of. 

 The male and female sit alternately, relieving each other, and 

 shewing equal marks of tenderness and affection. They sit 

 for three weeks, and lay only two eggs. Hence the old Scottish 

 saying, ' a doo's cleckin,' for a family of only two children, a 

 boy and a girl. 



" These interesting birds are much noted for their fidelity in 

 conjugal love. They are said to be very constant, and never 

 to change their partners till death puts a period to the con- 

 nection, or accident or old age prevents the female from breed- 

 ing. In the event of death, or any final separation, the widowed 

 bird is seen to feel his bereavement with all the sorrow of a 

 better creature. He shews by every movement, and every tone 

 of voice, that some inward perturbation is distracting him ; 



