270 THE REASON WHY. 



" Say, mid that grove, in love-lorn state, 

 While yon poor ring-dore mourns her mate, 

 Is all that meets the shepherd's ear, 

 Inspired by anguish and despair I" MASON. 



wings, and which had been reared in that city, were let loose in London at seAen 

 o'clock in the morning, after having their wings counter-marked " London," The 

 /same day, towards noon, one arrived at home ; a quarter of an hour afterwards, 

 another arrived. The following day twelve others returned, making fourteen in 

 all; of the fate of the rest no tidings were gleaned. In July, 1829, anothei 

 experiment was made, in consequence of some wagers laid at Maestricht between 

 some merchants there, that pigeons taken to London would, when let loose, return 

 in six hours. Forty-two pigeons were accordingly brought to London, and after 

 be'Jig properly marked, were thrown up at twenty-six minutes past eight in the 

 mrrning. If anyone of the number had arrived at Maestricht within six hours, 

 the principal wager, which was for 10,000 guilders, would have been gained ; but 

 in consequence, as it was supposed, of a heavy rain, the first did not arrive till six 

 hours and a quarter from the time when it left London, having, nevertheless, 

 travelled at the rate of forty-five miles an hour, assuming that the journey was 

 performed in a straight line. The second arrived in seven hours, the third in seven 

 hours and ten minutes, the fourth in seven hours and a half, and in four days more 

 than twenty had returned. The missing birds are supposed to have met with 

 accidents, which might be reasonably supposed to occur in such a long journey, 

 such as being shot, or to have taken up their abode with wild flocks on 

 their way. 



850. Why does the form of the ring-dove become considerably 

 changed in the evening ? 



Because, when they have fed upon turnip-tops and other vege- 

 tables during the day, the crop becomes so distended with food, a? 

 to give to the fore part of the body a very full appearance. 

 Tne contents of the stomach having been digested during the night 

 the body regains its ordinary proportions. 



851. Why is the flesh of the wild pigeon less delicate and 

 palatable than that of the tamed variety. 



Because the violent and frequently repeated exercise to which 

 they are subjected hardens the muscles of birds in a state 

 of nature. 



852. If the birds are brought up from their earliest stage, and kept upon rich 

 pastures where they have occasion to use the wing but little, the tenderness and 

 slso the flavour of their flesh are greatly improved. 



