BOCK DOVE. 307 



sent from Hamburgh ; and on this feather (the fourth of 

 the wing) was a drawing of exquisite design and execu- 

 tion. The ground colour of the feather was of a light 

 dove, the figures being wrought in black. In the centre 

 of a ring were two doves, each holding a letter, and near 

 it the initials of the owner, and the number 119, round 

 which was a motto in German. The whole drawing oc- 

 cupied a space of about an inch square. This feather is 

 still preserved at Spern Head as a great curiosity. 



In Captain Carleton's memoirs there is a description of 

 the Naval Battle of Solebay, fought on the 28th of May, 

 1 672. The following extract in reference to Pigeons kept 

 on board of ship, is not without interest : " I cannot here 

 omit one thing, which to some may seem trifling, though 

 I am apt to think our naturalists may have a different 

 opinion of it, and find it afford their fancies no undiverting 

 employment in more curious and less perilous reflections. 

 We had on board the * London,' where, as I have said, I 

 was a volunteer, a great number of Pigeons, of which our 

 commander was very fond. These, on the first firing of 

 our cannon, dispersed, and flew away, and were seen no- 

 where near us during the fight. The next day it blew a 

 brisk gale, and drove our fleet some leagues to the south- 

 ward of the place where they forsook our ship, yet the day 

 after they all returned safe on board ; not in one flock, but 

 in small parties of four or five at a time. Some persons at 

 that time on board the ship, admiring at the manner of 

 their return, and speaking of it with some surprise, Sir 

 Edward Sprage told them, that he brought those Pigeons 

 with him from the Streigths ; and that when, pursuant to 

 his orders, he left the ' Revenge' man-of-war to go on board 

 the ' London,' all those Pigeons, of their own accord, and 

 without the trouble or care of carrying, left the ' Revenge ' 

 likewise, and removed with the sailors on board the ' Lon- 



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