T H E P I G E O N K I N D. 6t 



other domeftic kinds. This bird, in its natural flate, is of a drep blueiili 

 a{h colour -, the breaft enlivened with fine changeable green and purple ; 

 its wings marked with two black bars ; the bacll white, the tail near the 

 end barred with black. Thefe fimple tints have deviated into unlimited 

 variety. 



The Stock-dove, in its native woods, breeds in the holes of rocks 

 and the hollows of trees. All other of the pigeon-kind build in the top- 

 moft branches of the foreft. But this foon takes to build in artificial 

 cavities ; and, excited by ready provifion and numerous fociety, eafily 

 becomes domeftic. It preferves its native colour for feveral genera- 

 tions. 



The dove-houfe pigeon breeds every month; but muft be fupplied 

 with food when the weather is fevere, or the fields are covered with fnow. 

 Lays two white eggs, which ufually produce young of different fexes. 

 The female fits fifteen days, in cold weather more, relieved at intervals 

 by the male. The intervals are ufualiy regulated with great exaftnefs. 

 From three or four o'clock in the evening till nine the next day, the 

 female fits ; then the male takes his place from ten till three, while his 

 mate is feeding abroad. If the female delays her return, the male fol- 

 lows, and drives her to the neft ; fhould he in his turn be dilatory, (he 

 retaliates upon him. 



The young require no food the three firft days, only warmth, which 

 the female fupplies entirely, nor ever ftirs out, except for a minute's 

 food. The old ones gather corn or grain in the fields, and keep it in their 

 crops, from whence they throw it up into the mouths of their young, 

 who greedily demand it. 



Of all birds, for its fize, the pigeon has the largeft crop, which has 

 alfo peculiar properties. Air, blown into the wind- pipe, diftends the crop 

 or gullet prodigioufly. By what apertures the air thus blown enters the 

 crop is unknown; but fome of them (which are called croppers) can fo 

 nuuch diftend it, that the bird's breaft feems bigger than its body. The 

 "ufe of the air, thus introduced, is to contribute to the cjeftion of the half- 

 macerated grain contained in the crop, with which the pigeon feeds its 

 3J0ung. The expanfive and contradive powers of the crop enable it>o 

 Wd a greater quantity than otherwife it would, and to eject it at plea- 

 fiire. This the young receive open-mouthed ; being thus fed three times 

 a day. In feeding, the male ufually fupplies the young female; and the 

 njd female fupplies the young male. When well fed, the old ones do 

 JjQt wait the total difmiflion of their young ; but in the fame neft are 

 Ifcund young ones almoft fie for flight, and eggs hatching. 



L2 -The 



