THE PIGEON. 



129 



the wild pigeon, which, though bearing a 

 strong affinity to the stock-dove, are, never- 

 theless, sufficiently different from it to deserve 

 a distinct description. The ring-dove is of 

 this number; a good deal larger than the 

 former ; and building its nest with a few dry 

 sticks, in the boughs of trees. This seems a 

 bird much fonder of its native freedom than 

 the former; and attempts have been fre- 

 quently made to render it domestic ; but they 

 have hitherto proved fruitless, for though their 

 eggs have been hatched by the tame pigeon 

 in a dove-house, yet, as soon as they could 

 fly, they always betook themselves to the 

 woods where they were first produced. In 

 the beginning of winter these assemble in 

 great flocks in the woods, and leave off coo- 

 ing ; nor do they resume this note of court- 

 ship till the beginning of March, when the 



valueless to the fancier, no matter how excellent are its 

 other properties. The English pouter, which is a cross 

 between a horseman and a cropper, possesses the re- 

 markable property of blowing out its breast or crop to 

 such an extent that it rises to a level with its beak, and 

 the bird appears to look over the top of an inflated 

 bladder. This monstrosity is highly esteemed, and, 

 according to the rules laid down by the fancy, it ought 

 to be large and circular, rising behind the neck, so as to 

 cover and run off at the shoulders. There is a pre- 

 cise point beyond which the pouting must not be car- 

 ried ; for if the inflation goes too far, it upsets the bird, 

 and causes it to tumble backward ; and, therefore, to 

 bring the pouting to the utmost pitch to which equili- 

 brium will be preserved, is reckoned a matter of first 

 importance. 



genial season, by supplying them with food, 

 renews their desires. 



The turtle-dove is a smaller, but a much 

 shyer bird, than any of the former. It may 

 easily be distinguished from the rest by the 

 iris of the eye, which is of a fine yellow, and 

 by a beautiful crimson circle that encompasses 

 the eye-lids. The fidelity of these birds is 

 noted; and a pair being put in a cage, if one 

 dies the other will not survive it. The tur- 

 tle-dove is a bird of passage, and few, or none, 

 remain in our northern climates in winter. 

 They fly in flocks when they come to breed 

 here in summer, and delight in open, moun- 

 tainous, sandy countries. But they build 

 their nests in the midst of woods, and choose 

 the most retired situations for incubation. 

 They feed upon all sorts of grain, but are 

 fondest of millet seed. 



To this short list might be added a long 

 catalogue of foreign pigeons, of which we 

 know little more than the plumage and the 

 names. Indeed, the variety of their plumage 

 is as beautiful, as the names by which they 

 are known are harsh and dissonant. The 

 ocotzimtzcan, for instance, is one of the most 

 splendid tenants of the Mexican forests ; but 

 few, I believe, would desire to learn the 

 name, only to be informed that it is covered 

 with purple, green, and yellow plumage. To 

 describe such birds, the historian's pen is not 

 half such a useful implement as the painter's 

 pencil. 



VOL. n. 



