NATURAL HISTORY. 267 



" One silent eve I wandcr'd late, 

 And heard the voice of love ; 

 The turtle thus address'd her mate, 

 And soothed the listening dove." COWPER. 



storms which they often experience, at those places -where 

 they frequent. 



837. It does not appear that there is, generally speaking, much food for them in 

 tbe close vicinity of the rocks their natural habitations. But, in order to keep up 

 the powerful and long-continued muscular action which they must exert, they 

 require a high degree of action in the vital system, and consequently a copious 

 and frequt nt supply of food. In order to obtain this, they must range about in 

 all weathers, and consequently they require to be warmly as well as 

 ejinpactly clothed. 



838. Why is the plumage of the pigeon tribe of a sombre hue ? 



Thsir food consists chiefly of grain,pulse, acorns, beech-nuts, and 

 other seeds, and occasionally the tender shoots of particular plants. 

 These they gather on the ground, and hence the colour of their 

 plumage is so ordered as not to be readily distinguishable from 

 the vegetation among which they feed. 



839. The structure of the pigeon tribe manifestly displays the unerring: provision 

 of Nature. Their bills are slender, though still of average strength, for they have 

 no nuts or fruits to break. Their tails are generally square, and their wings strong 

 and pointed, thus fitting them for long and arduous flights. 



840. Why does the rock pigeon prefer, among artijicial 

 pigeon-houses, one that has been whitewashed ? 



There may be two reasons for this : first, the whitened pigeon- 

 house is a more conspicuous object than the other ; and secondly, 

 a considerable quantity of carbonate of lime may be required for 

 the eggs of the female, which, though only two in each batch, are 

 often numerous in the course of the year. This the bird obtains 

 by pecking at the lime. 



841. Why is the rock pigeon, which never feeds upon fish, seen 

 to walk and pick upon the sea-beach ? 



Probably for the purpose of taking into its crop bits of shell 

 e*d small slone.it, as means towards the digestion of its food. 



