STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



273 



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\N Java and the Molucca Islands, 

 L' there is a splendid bird, called the 

 great crowned pigeon. A male be- 

 longing to this species is represented 

 in the engraving on the opposite page. 

 As will be seen, the bird has a much more 

 showy appearance than the members of this 

 family which are common among us. 



Jesse, in his " Grleanings in Natural History," 

 gives the following testimony to the affection 

 of the common domestic dove: "A man," he 

 says, " set to watch a field of peas which had 

 been much injured by pigeons, shot an old 

 male pigeon who had long been a pensioner on 

 the farm. His mate immediately flew down 

 upon the ground by his side, and showed her 

 grief in the most affecting manner. The man 

 took up the dead bird, and tied it to a stake. 



