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COLUMBID.E. 



the bottom of the nest, and thus endeavour to insure tlie 

 capture at a future day. The oid birds feed during spring 

 and summer on green corn, young clover, grain of all sorts, 

 with peas in particular, and during autumn and winter on 

 acorns, beech-nuts, berries, and turnip leaves. In cold 

 weather they fly in flocks, roosting at night on high trees 

 of ash and oak in thick woods. Ring Doves are in consi- 

 derable estimation as an article of food, and one of the best 

 modes of obtaining a shot at them is to be in waiting under 

 the trees upon which they come to roost. Ring Doves, 

 like the Pigeons in general, are birds of great power of 

 flight ; and this species may be recognized when on the 

 wing almost as far off as any bird I am acquainted with. 



Considerable pains have been taken by different indivi- 

 duals to domesticate this species, and the eggs are frequently 

 obtained and placed under other Pigeons ; but it generally 

 happens that as soon as the young birds are able to fly, and 

 have learned to feed themselves, they take their departure for 

 more natural haunts. 



M. Vieillot says that they have not been able to succeed 

 in France in inducing this bird to breed in confinement, 

 tliough this secret was known to the ancients. Several per- 

 sons have failed in this country ; but, on the other hand, 

 some have succeeded. Mr. Thomas Allis, of York, has 

 been successful for the two or three last seasons following. 

 These birds have bred in the aviary of Earl Derby at Knows- 

 ley ; and two or three summers since, a pair of these birds 

 in the Dove-house at the Gardens of the Zoological Society 

 in the Regent's Park, built a nest, and produced two eggs ; 

 but, unfortunately, during the period of incubation, in which 

 the male assisted, the eggs were broken by some of the nu- 

 merous other birds, most of them of the same genus, with 

 which they were confined. 



This species is found as far south as the latitude of 



