128 OUR DOJIESTIC FOWLS. 



appear that such numbers are not now kept, 

 as were formerly, for some of the pigeon- 

 towers are almost or quite tenantless; still, 

 however, the multitudes are very great, and 

 the noise of their wings as they suddenly rush 

 forth when alarmed is astounding. Our classic 

 readers may remember Virgil's beautiful simile 

 of the frightened dove rushing from her 

 rocky cavern, of which the following is Dry- 

 den's translation : 



" As when the dove her rocky hold forsakes, 

 Rous'd in a fright her sounding wings she shakes 

 The cavern rings witli clattering, out she flies 

 And leaves h°r callow care, and cleaves the skies; 

 At first she flutters, but at length she springs 

 To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings." 



vExEID, 1. V. 



The clattering of a single dove is but a 

 whisper compared to the roar of accumulated 

 thousands. 



In the east generally, pigeons, from the 

 earliest times, have been great favourites and 

 kept in multitudes. The author of the "Phy- 

 sical History of Palestine'' says, "The in- 

 habitants of Syria and Palestine are fond of 

 pigeons, like the western Asiatics generally. 

 Conspicuous dove-cotes are seen profusely in 

 most of the villages, and vast flocks of wild 

 doves appear about the time the corn begins 



