BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



whether they lie north or south of Tweed. 



The rectangular variety, equally common, 

 with its single slope of lean-to roof, is also 

 known in fiction. In Mrs. Jacob's story, The 

 Interloper, we are introduced to the dovecote 

 of Morphie,andaremadespectatorsof the fight 

 which there took place between the hero and 

 the would-be pigeon-thieves. It is clear that in 

 this case the building was of the rectangular 

 type, with its gables crow-stepped — "corbie- 

 stepped," inScottishphrase — and ornamented 

 with stone balls upon the summit of the roof. A 

 net is employed by the depredators, who throw 

 it over the entrance-holes in order to secure 

 the birds as they fly out. This was a common 

 method of catching the pigeons in legitimate 

 fashion, and on some Scottish dovecotes iron 

 hooks to which the net was fastened may be 

 seen. 



Again, in Neil Munro's novel, The New 

 Road, the dovecote of Drimdorran is a central 

 feature in the scene. 



The attack upon the dovecote of Morphie 

 was an offence liable to severe punishment; 

 nevertheless it was, without doubt, a frequent 

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