OF THE DOMESTIC PIGEON. 243 



siderably dilated. If the crop were filled with solid 

 substances, the bird could not contract it; but it is 

 obvious the bird has the power to compress its crop at 

 pleasure, and by discharging the air, can drive the 

 food out also, which is forced up the gullet with great 

 ease. The young usually receives this tribute of affec- 

 tion from the crop three times a-day. The male, for 

 the most part, feeds the young female, and the old 

 female performs the same service for the young male. 

 While the young are weak, the old ones supply them 

 with food macerated, suitable to their tender frame ; 

 but, as they gain strength, the parents give it less pre- 

 paration, and at last drive them out, when a craving 

 appetite obliges them to shift for themselves; for 

 when pigeons have plenty of food, they do not wait 

 for the total dismission of their young; it being a 

 common thing to see young ones fledged, and eggs 

 hatching at the same time and in the same nest. 



" The terms applied to pigeons of different ages are, 

 the youngest, when fed by the cock and hen, squabs, 

 at which age they are most in demand for pies. Under 

 six months of age, they are termed squeakers ; at that 

 age they begin to breed, and then, or earlier, they are 

 in the fittest state for removal to a strange situation. 



" In respect to food, pigeons are entirely granivorous, 



