354 THE DOVECOT PIGEON. 



them you must, and preclude their return, be the cost ever so great ; 

 otherwise disappointment will most assuredly be your lot. 



The barn owl and the starling are harmless unoffending visitors to 

 the dovecot : they repair to it merely for shelter or for a breeding- 

 place ; so that I always like to see them enter mine. It is a lofty 

 and a spacious building ; and last season it furnished seventy-three 

 dozens of young pigeons. The walls were made with flues, by the 

 judicious use of which we had a very early supply for the table ; but, 

 through some neglect on the part of the attendant, a fire took place, 

 which threatened destruction to the surrounding buildings. In con- 

 sequence of this, the flues were no longer heated, and they have 

 continued in disuse since that time. Though owls, and hawks, and 

 crows, and magpies are allowed an unmolested range in the vicinity 

 of this dovecot, still it is acknowledged to be one of the most pro- 

 ductive in the county. 



There is a peculiarity in the habits of the dovecot pigeon which 

 ought not to pass unnoticed. Though this bird will often perch on 

 trees in the day-time, it has never been known to roost on them 

 during the night. Neither will it pass the night in the open air, 

 except in cases of the greatest emergency. I have an aged elm 

 here, of gigantic size, to which both the dovecot pigeon and the 

 wild ring-pigeon will frequently resort. It is amusing to watch the 

 peculiar habits of these two different species of birds. They seem 

 to come to the tree solely for their own convenience, and not with 

 any intention to enjoy each other's company ; and they appear to 

 be as devoid of mutual signs of courtesy as are our own country- 

 men when seated in a foreign diligence. I am positive that there 

 will never be a union betwixt the dovecot pigeon and the ringdove. 

 A long series of observations, which I have been enabled to make, 

 tends to convince me more and more of the impossibility. 



The dovecot pigeons, like the rest of the genus, are remarkable 

 for retiring to their roost at an early hour, and for leaving it late in 

 the morning : thus fulfilling only half of poor Richard's maxim of 



" Early to bed, and early to rise, 



Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." 



These pigeons never lay more than two eggs at one sitting. In- 



