PIGEONS. 313 



and very kind ones. Dr and Mrs Davy ; and Mrs Fletcher, 

 the mother ol the latter, my oldest friend., now in her 

 eighty- sixth year, lives close at hand. 



•' JTour note to Henrietta has been received since we 

 came here. 1 was really just about writing to say how I 

 remembered that your request related rather to engravers' 

 work than anything quite immediate from myself. I 

 think pigeons were formerly named among us. If you 

 care to take them first, I was going to suggest that a 

 gigantic foreign species, well known but remarkable in 

 size and structure, called the Goura, or ciown pigeon, 

 might be selected as illustrative. It is engraved in many 

 books, and exists in most collections. I cannot refer 

 specially to any good representation of it, but Adam 

 White could shew it you at once in the British Museum. 

 Or if you like to take the turtle dove, Cohnnba turtur 

 (the one which visits England), or the laughing turtle- 

 dove, Col. risoria (the eastern one), or any other species, 

 it will be the same thing to me. 



" Since I sat down to this (and my hand is tired 

 already) I have heard read out with deep regret, from the 

 Witness, the death of your clear mother, and so I almost 

 feel inclined to apologise for intruding. But I know you 

 will be glad to hear from me, and I was myself desirous 

 to write, more willing indeed than able. I am. however, 

 in every respect greatly better, and I hope I am sufficiently 



