60 THE 



From the affectionate regard exhibited by the sexes, the 

 ancients considered the Dove as an emblem of love, and 

 hence it was frequently depicted as an attendant in their 

 representations of Venus and Cupid. 



Many species of this tribe are remarkable for their 

 powers of flight ; and the short space of time in which 

 they perform long journeys, is almost incredible. To 

 ascertain with some degree of exactness the speed of the 

 Carrier Pigeon, a gentleman, some years ago, sent one 

 from London by the coach to a friend at Bury St. Ed- 

 munds, desiring that it might be set at liberty two days 

 after its arrival, precisely as the town-clock struck nine 

 in the morning. This request f was strictly attended to, 

 and the Pigeon arrived at the Bull-Inn, in Bishopsgate- 

 street, at half-past eleven o'clock of the same morning, 

 having thus flown seventy-two miles in two hours and a 

 half. / 



During the breeding season, Pigeons associate in pairs, 

 and pay court to each other with their bills. Both the 

 male and female assist in the labor of incubation. The 

 female lays two eggs, and the young ones produced are 

 generally a male and female ; these are attended to by 

 both the parent birds. At first they are fed with a sub- 

 stance resembling curd, secreted within the crop, the coat- 

 ing of which becomes thickened and enlarged. The pro- 

 cess is somewhat analagous to the secretion of milk within 

 the mammae of quadrupeds. If the state of the crop be 

 examined during incubation, it will be found to have a 

 glandular and irregular appearance. Upon killing an old 

 Pigeon, when the young are just protruding from the egg, 

 it will be observed to have within this cavity small pieces- 

 of white curd mixed with its ordinary food of peas, barley, 

 and other grains. It is for a short time that the young are 

 fed with this substance ; for, on the third day, it is adminis- 

 tered along with a mixture of common food, and in eight 

 or nine days the secretion of curd completely fails in the 



