276 THE GAME COCK. 



wild Pigeons amongst a tribe of Indians, which were so tame 

 as to fly and return again. 



That birds of this order can form odd attachments, we may 

 learn from the following strange association between a House- 

 Pigeon and a cat. The Pigeon had made her nest in a loft 

 much infested with rats, which had more than once destroyed 

 her eggs, or devoured her young ones. Her repeated losses at 

 length induced her to rebuild her nest in another part of the 

 loft, where a cat was rearing three kittens, with whom she 

 contrived to form a strong friendship. They fed from the 

 same dish, and when the cat went out into the field, the Pigeon 

 was often observed to be fluttering near her. The Pigeon, 

 aware of the advantage of her protection, had placed her nest 

 close to the straw bed of the cat, and there, in safety, reared two 

 broods of young ones ; and, in return for the protection she 

 experienced from the cat, she became a defender of the young 

 kittens, and would often attack with beak and wings any 

 person approaching too near. 



Considering their insignificant means of defence, consisting, 

 in great measure, of the spur on the leg of the male, few birds 

 exhibit a more bold and resolute spirit than the Poultry tribe, 

 in which we may include Pheasants, so nearly are they allied 

 to our common barn-door fowls in their habits and mode of 

 life. We knew an instance where a barn-door Cock became 

 the terror of his little domain. Accustomed to be fed - by his 

 owner, a clergyman, he shortly began to express his disappoint- 

 ment by very determined attacks, if his master happened to 

 pass him without the accustomed offering. On one occasion 

 he actually struck a piece out of a strong kerseymere gaiter, 

 and repeated the attack, in spite of some severe kicks which 

 it was found necessary to inflict in self-defence. Nothing 

 daunted, though occasionally fairly kicked several yards, like 

 a foot-ball, he would still come on as fiercely as ever, for three 

 or four times. 



During one of these assaults he received an injury which 

 lamed him for a week ; but no sooner had he recovered than 

 he became as pugnacious as ever. His reasoning, too, appeared 

 to be on a par with his courage, for he soon discovered that 



