THE PIE KIND. 13? 



pipe, it distended the crop or gullet to a prodigious size. Tms wa& 

 the more extraordinary, as there seemed to be no communication 

 whatever between these two receptacles, as the conduit by which we 

 breathe, as every one knows, leads to a very different receptacle from 

 that where we put our food. By what apertures the air blown into 

 the lungs of the pigeon makes its way into the crop, is unknown ; but 

 nothing is more certain than that these birds have a power of filling 

 .he crop with air ; and some of them, which are called croppers, dis- 

 tend it in such a manner that the bird's breast seems bigger than its 

 body. The peculiar mechanism of this part is not well known ; but 

 the necessity for it in these animals is pretty obvious. The pigeon, 

 as we all know, lives entirely upon grain and water : these are mixed 

 together in the crop ; and in the ordinary way are digested in pro- 

 portion as the bird lays in its provision. But to feed its young, which 

 are very voracious, it is necessary to lay in a store greater than ordi- 

 nary, and to give the food a kind of half maceration to suit their ten- 

 der appetites. The heat of the bird's body, assisted by air and nu- 

 merous glands separating a milky fluid, are the most necessary instru- 

 ments for this operation : but, in proportion as the food macerates, it 

 begins to swell also, and the crop must of consequence be considera- 

 bly dilated. Still, however, the air which is contained in it gives the 

 bird a power of contracting it at pleasure ; for if it were filled with 

 more solid substances, the bird could have no power to compress it. 

 But this is not the case ; the bird can compress its crop at pleasure, 

 and driving out the air, can thus drive out the food also, which is 

 forced up the gullet, like a pellet from a pop-gun. The young ones 

 open-mouthed, receive this tribute of affection, and are thus fed three 

 times a day. In feeding, the male usually supplies the young female, 

 while the old female supplies the young of the opposite sex. The food 

 with which they are supplied, is more macerated in the beginning ; 

 but as they grow older, the parents give it less preparation, and at 

 last drive them out to shift for themselves. When well fed, however, 

 the old ones do not wait for the total dismission of their young, but in 

 the same nest are to be found young ones almost fit for flight, and 

 eggs hatching at the same time. 



The fidelity of the turtle-dove is proverbial, and makes the usual 

 comparison of such poets as are content to repeat what others have 

 .said before them ; but the pigeon of the dove-house is not so faithful, 

 and having been subjected to man, it puts on licentiousness among its 

 other domestic habits. Two males are often seen quarrelling for the 

 same mistress ; and when the female admits the addresses of a new 

 gallant, her old companion seems to bear the contempt with some 

 marks of displeasure, abstaining from her company, or if he approach- 

 es, it is only to chastise her. There have been instances when two 

 males, being displeased with their respective mates, have -thought 

 proper to make an exchange, and have lived in great harmony with 

 their new companions. 



So great is the produce of this bird in its domestic stale, that near 

 fifteen thousand may, in the space of four years, be produced from a 

 single pair. But the stock-dove seldom breeds above twice a year ; 

 for when the winter months come, the whole employment of the fond 

 couple is rather for self-preservation, than transmitting a posterity 



