158 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXX. 



the country before, and has not the assistance of the 

 example and guidance of any more experienced 

 companions, as is always the case with migrating 

 birds. 



The carrier-pigeon is very beautifully shaped, 

 with broad chest and most powerfully jointed wings. 

 Except as to the head and feet, this kind of pigeon 

 has very much the form of a falcon, and is pecu- 

 liarly well fitted for long-continued and rapid flight. 



The wood-pigeons in this country are to a certain 

 degree migratory, imitating, longo intervallo, the 

 American passenger-pigeons, in shifting their quar- 

 ters from one part of the kingdom to another, being 

 influenced in their migrations by the abundance 

 or scarcity of food. 



The common dove-cot or blue pigeon generally 

 flies several miles, morning and evening, to favourite 

 feeding-places, seldom seeking for food in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of the pigeon-house. In the 

 months of May and June the house-pigeons have 

 most difficulty in procuring food, the crops being 

 all unripe, and none of the seed-corn remaining on 

 the surface of the ground. At this season, too, few 

 weeds have ripened ; and the pigeons have there- 

 fore to depend in a great measure for their own 

 subsistence and that of their young on the minute 

 seed of the turnip, which is sown at this period. 



