Qn the domestic Pigeons of Spain. 1 1 9 



The ladronas or palomas de casta. No. 6, have the head 

 a little lengthened, with tubercles a little more considerable 

 upon the beak ; but otherwise they bear a great resem- 

 blance to the rasa pigeons ; like them they testify a strong 

 attachment for the place of their abode, and the same ardent 

 desire of coupling themselves. They make use of those two 

 classes for alluring wild pigeons. They are taken in the fol- 

 lowing manner : 



In the beginning of November they separate all the males 

 from the females, with which they had been paired from 

 the beginning of May. Scarcely do they see themselves 

 abandoned by their mates, when they fly in flocks towards 

 the steeples, where the wild pigeons generally build their 

 nests; they attract in this manner the young males who 

 have no companions, and lead them to their pigeon-houses : 

 sometimes, however, the males appear to be apprehensive of 

 danger, and return when they are arrived at the entrance of 

 the pigeon-house. They can at pleasure exercise this kind 

 of piracy, whether by males or by females, according as they 

 separate the one from the other. 



The flamenquillas, No. 9, are distinguished from all the 

 other classes by their plumage, which varies much on the 

 different individuals. There are some entirely black, others 

 are white, and some again are so mixed with various colours 

 that it is impossible to fix on any of them. The eyes are 

 encircled with a flesh-coloured skin ; the head is less length- 

 ened ; the beak short, with large protuberances : otherwise 

 they are, if we may so term them, the transition to the se- 

 cond division, from which they differ by their strong and 

 rapid flight. We will now speak of that second division. 



Second Division. 



We ought here to observe, that, in general, all the classes 

 of this division arc held in little esteem (except, however, 

 those of the first sub-division), but on account of their fe- 

 cundity, and the savour of their flesh. Amateurs have taken 

 much less pains to preserve their original forms, and all the 

 cla«scs are permitted to unite and mix together at will. 



II 4 First 



