240 



we eitlier cannot or will not breed in captivit\', is only 

 to persist in wasting our mone}^ and ii; killing to no 

 purpose uncountable multitudes of one of the most 

 beautiful forms of the creations of Nature. 



(To be continued I . 



'' Birb 3ntimacic5." 



" i ^ ^^^ ' HE Rector of Woolstone, Mr. Gilbert Coventry. 



((7\ has just told me of a wild Rock-Dove, which 



V^ one of his stable-boys had reared from the 



nest. It slept in the open, however, and had 



full liberty. Soon the grand things on the Rector'.s 



table attracted it, and it would appear through the 



open window at mealtimes, take hot .soup with much 



zest, and even sip sherry from the wineglass. At 



night it often slipped in and slept in the Rector's bed, 



on its back, under the coverlet ! 



One Sunday morning during the reading of the 

 lesson the Dove flew swiftly through an open window 

 into the church and settled on the Rector's head. 

 Broad smiles spread over the faces of the elders, and 

 audible titters came from the 3'oungsters. A gentle 

 touch sent the bird down to the edge of the clerk's 

 desk below, where it sat undisturbed. This clerk is 

 now officiating in that church for the seventj^-fourth 

 year. He was onl}^ sixteen when first appointed, and 

 is now ninety years of age, still hale and strong, and 

 one not likely to be upset by so slight a matter as a 

 perching Dove. He is one of four brothers, all still 

 living, the j^oungest being seventy-three years old. 

 Another of them is also a village clerk. I grieve to 

 say that the Dove has lately died from over-eating and 

 drinking. 



A Laughing Dove of Barbary which was given to 

 a sister of Mr. Coven trv lived in her town house for 



