BISET OR WILD ROCK-PIGEON. 155 



ent upon man for support, and have lost the power 

 or capability, even when allowed to fly at large, of 

 looking for and finding their own food, insomuch 

 that, if left to themselves, they would in all likelihood 

 perish from hunger and want. In these buildings, 

 it is usual to erect a certain number of boxes or di- 

 visions against the walls or sides, each calculated to 

 accommodate a pair of pigeons, with their nest and 

 young. They are best when separated and distinct 

 from each other, with a small platform, and an en- 

 trance just large enough to admit the bird ; as, when 

 disposed in a continuous row, and open in front, the 

 birds are apt to interfere with each other, and, by 

 their jealousies and contentions, to prevent the due 

 increase of eggs and young. To ensure the purity 

 of any particular kind, the young males, as soon as 

 they shew symptoms of maturity, which is known 

 by particular gesticulations and their cooing-notes, 

 are placed apart in a chamber constructed for the 

 purpose, with a female of the same variety. Here 

 they remain till a mutual attachment has taken place, 

 after which they may be returned to the general 

 aviary or dove-house ; for, when once an alliance is 

 effected, it generally continues undissolved and in- 

 violate till the death or removal of one of the parties ; 

 on which account many different varieties may be 

 kept in the same aviary, or associated together in 

 one building, without much apprehension of having 

 a contaminated breed. 



