THE COLUiMBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. 127 



large dove-cotes, like towers, are conspicuous 

 objects near towns and villages, it is not for 

 the table that these birds are reared, but for 

 the sake of the dung, which is used as a 

 manure for melon grounds ; it is in fact a sort 

 of " Guano," the supply of which is regularly 

 kept up, especially in the neighbourhood of 

 Ispahan, where the melons are celebrated for 

 their superiox-ity. This manure is dear, but 

 almost indispensable. 



These dove-cote pigeons of Persia are all of 

 a leaden blue colour ; a white pigeon is in 

 fact so rare as to be regarded as a sort of 

 prodigy, and formerly was looked upon with 

 superstitious aversion. In the outskirts of 

 Ispahan, the pigeon-houses are striking ob- 

 jects, and at a distance might be taken for 

 towers of defence or lofty strong-holds ; they 

 are generally surmounted by smaller towers, 

 capped with a sugar-loaf spire, having aper- 

 tures for the entrance and exit of the birds. 

 The inside is replete with breeding cells, in 

 close array, for the accommodation of many 

 hundreds. From these towers vast clouds of 

 pigeons issue, wheeling about in masses so ex- 

 tensive and compact, as to obscure the sun 

 when they pass OYerhead, Yet it would 



