I 522 



GDrra&trg of 



Croppers), the bird's breast appears larger 

 than its body. The numerous glands, as- 

 sisted by air, and the heat of the bird's body, 

 are the necessary apparatus for secreting 

 the milky fluid before mentioned : but as the 

 food is macerated, that also swells, and be- 

 comes considerably dilated. 



Though the constancy of the Turtle-dove 

 is proverbial, the Pigeon of the dove-house i 

 not so faithful, and having become subject 

 to man, puts on incontinence among its 

 other domestic qualities. Two males are 

 often seen quarrelling for the same mistress; 

 and when the female encourages the free- 

 doms of a new gallant, her old companion 

 shows visible marks of his displeasure, quits 

 her company, or if he approach, it is only to 

 chastise her. Many instances have been 

 known where two males, being dissatisfied 

 with their respective mates, have thought fit 

 to make an exchange, and have lived in peace 

 and friendship with the new objects of their 

 choice. The dove-cot Pigeons, like the rest 

 of the genus, retire to their roost at a very 

 early hour ; but they leave it unusually 

 late in the morning ; and though they will 

 perch on trees in the day-time, nothing will 

 induce them to roost there at night. They 

 are greatly attached to the cot of their choice ; 

 so much so, that they are scarcely to be driven 

 from it but by fire-arms. Pigeons have slxarp 

 sight, and are quick of hearing ; and when 

 pursued by a hawk they show that they can 

 fly with great velocity. It is their nature 

 to congregate together, to bill in courtship, 

 and to utter a plaintive note. 



The CARRIER PIGEON". Of all the varieties, 

 the most remarkable for its attachment to 

 its native place is the CARRIER PIGKOJT, or 

 MESSENGER ; so called from its being used 

 to convey letters from one place to another. 

 These birds are rather larger than most of 

 the common-sized Pigeons ; their feathers 

 lie very close and even, and their necks are 

 long and straight ; so that when they stand 

 upright on their legs, they show more gen- 

 tility of shape than most other Pigeons, 

 From the lower part of the head to the 

 middle of the lower chap there grows out a 

 white, naked, fungous flesh, which is called 

 the wattle, and is generally met by two small 

 protuberances of the same luxuriant flesh, 

 rising on each side of the under chap. The 

 eyes are surrounded with the same sort of 

 corrugated flesh ; and the circle round the 

 black pupil of their eyes is commonly of a 

 red brick-dust colour, though more esteemed 

 when it is of a brilliant red. When the 

 luxuriant flesh round the eye is thick and 

 broad, it is considered that the Carrier wili 

 be a good breeder, and rear very fine young 

 ones. Extraordinary attention was formerly 

 paid to the training of these Pigeons. An 

 actual post system, in which Pigeons were 

 the messengers, was established by the Sultan 

 Noureddin Mahmoud, who died in 1174 ; 

 which flying post lasted till 1258, when 

 Bagdad fell into the hand? of the Mongols, 

 and was destroyed by them. At present 

 they are kept only by a few wealthy indivi- 

 duals in the East, much time and attention 

 being required to train them properly. As 



soon as the young are fledged, a cock and a 

 hen bird are made as tame as possible, and 

 accustomed to each other's society. They 

 are then sent, in an uncovered cage, to the 

 place whither they are usually to carry mes- 

 sages. If one of them should be lost, or 

 carried away, after having been well treated 

 for some time, it will certainly return to its 

 mate. A small letter is written on the finest 

 kind of thin paper ; then placed lengthwise 

 under one wing, and closely fastened with a 

 pin ( the point being turned from the body) 

 to a feather. The custom, however, was not 

 altogether confined to the East ; nor is it 

 obsolete ; for although we no longer hear of 

 Pigeons conveying tidings of distress from a 

 besieged town, or of promised deliverance 

 from an army advancing to its relief, we 

 know that they are frequently employed 

 with effect in "stock-jobbing transactions," 

 or in enabling an adept in the mysteries of 

 betting to pocket a few "cool hundreds," 

 whether it be from his friend on the turf or a 

 fellow-patron of the more ignoble " ring." 

 Nay, we imagine they are not even now 

 likely to be wholly superseded, wonderful 

 as are the powers of steam and locomotion 

 if it be true, as stated, that a Carrier Pigeon 

 will perform the distance of forty miles in 

 half an hour ! 



Having dwelt so fully on the qualities of 

 this serviceable Pigeon, it may be proper to 

 give some instructions for its education. " In 

 order to train a Pigeon for this purpose." 

 says our authority, " take a strong, full- 

 fledged young Carrier, and convey it in a 

 basket or bag about half a mile from home, 

 and there turn it loose ; having repeated thi* 

 two or three times, then take it two, four, 

 eight, ten, or twenty miles, and so on till they 

 will return from the remote parts of the 

 kingdom. For if they be not practised when 

 young, the best of them will fly but insecurely, 

 and stand a chance of being lost. Be careful 

 that the Pigeon intended to be sent with the 

 letter is kept in the dark, and without food, 

 for about eight hours before it is let loose, 

 [rather a long abstinence, it would seem, but 

 " use is second nature,"] when it will imme- 

 diately rise to a great height, and turning 

 round, as is their custom, will continue on 

 the wing till it has reached its home." By 



hat chart it is guided in its unerring flight 

 is among the wonders of instinctive reason 

 ing. 



The TUMBLER. These birds, which are^of 

 various colours, receive their name from their 

 extraordinary motions in flying, frequently 

 turning themselves in the air, and proceeding 

 with an undulating and irregular motion. 

 They will also frequently rise to such an 

 amazing height in the air as to be almost 

 imperceptible to the keenest eye. They all 

 keep quite close together while flying, ana in 

 fair weather they will continue their aerial 

 evolutions for many hours at a time. 



The JACOBIN, or JACK. This kind has a 

 range of inverted feathers on the back part 

 of the head, which turns towards the neck, 

 like the cap or cowl of a monk : thus de- 



ving their name from the religious of that 

 order, who wear cowls. 



