TIIK UINQ-DOVE.] 



r>v fii:m). wood and water. 



[the UlXa-DOVB. 



The usual way of enticing pij^eona to remain 

 at a required spot, is to iihice what is culled a 

 salt-cat near them. This is composed of loam, 

 old rubbish, and salt, and will so elVoctually 

 answer the purpose as to decoy even those bo- 

 lou'^ing to other places ; it is on tliis account 

 held illegal. There are a great many varieties 

 of the domestic pigeon ; and of these the 

 carriers are the most justly celebrated. They 

 obtain their name from the circumstance of 

 their conveying letters and small packets from 

 one place to another. It is through attach- 

 ment to their native place, and particularly to 

 the spot where they have brought up their 

 young, that they are thus rendered useful to 

 mankind. The bird is conveyed from its home 

 to the place whence the information is intended 

 to be sent, and the letter is tied under its wing, 

 when it is let loose. From the instant of its libe- 

 ration, its flight is directed through the clouds, 

 at an amazing height, to its home. By an in- 

 stinct altogether inconceivable, it darts onward 

 in a straight line to the very spot whence 

 it was taken ; but how it can direct its flight 

 so exactly, will probably for ever remain un- 

 known to us. The carrier-pigeon is easily 

 distinguished from the other varieties, by a 

 broad circle of naked white skin round the 

 eyes, and by its dark-blue or blackish colour. 



THE RING-DOVE. 



This is the largest of all the British pigeons, 

 generally weigliing about twenty ounces ; and 

 may at once be distinguished by its size from 

 all the rest. It builds on the branches of 

 trees, generally preferring those of the pine ; 

 the nest is large and open, formed principally 

 of dried sticks ; and the eggs, which may be 

 frequently seen through the bottom of the 

 nest, are larger than those of the domestic 

 pigeon. Attempts have frequently been made 

 to domesticate this bird, by hatching its eggs 

 in dove-houses under the common pigeon ; but 

 as soon as the young ones were able to fly, 

 they always escaped to their' proper haunts. 



Some writers think the wood-pigeon (for it 

 often goes by this name) has considerably de- 

 creased within late years ; but this is, at least, 

 doubtful. When Mr. White, of Selborne, 

 wrote his admirable History, we believe the 

 birds were pretty numerous ; and our belief is 

 that they are as numerous now (if not more so) 



ns at any previous period. It is injpossiblo 

 to travel in any direction in Great Britain 

 and not seo vast flocks of them, at least on 

 those tracts of country which abound with 

 a fair portion of wood, and am in a state of 

 tolerable cultivation. Mr. White Hays, on 

 this point, that " ho had often killed near 

 twenty in a day ; and that on some occasions, 

 with a long fowling-piece, he has even shot 

 seven or eight at a time ou the wing, as they 

 camo wheeling over his head ; and that there 

 were often, among them, little parties of small 

 blue doves, which are called rockiers." 



In shooting the wild pigeon, it requires 

 rather a heavy blow to knock it down. Its 

 feathers are close, and resist shot like those of 

 water-fowl. AVhen these birds collect in con- 

 siderable numbers about turnip-fields in winter, 

 they invariably set pickets to watch over a 

 surprise. These sit on two or three of the 

 highest trees in the neighbourhood ; and when 

 they give the alarm, the entire body imme- 

 diately take flight. AVe have been often 

 struck, and sometimes a little mortified into 

 the bargain, to see how adroitly and cleverly 

 these sentinels perform their duty. Tet in 

 spite of their instinctive and systematic vigi- 

 lance, the sportsman may often succeed in 

 getting within range of the flock, and do con- 

 siderable execution, by having a reliable gun, 

 and using rather large-sized shot. In the 

 months of July and August, this bird visits 

 old pasture-fields, and feeds rather keenly 

 on the seeds of a species of grass which is 

 then abundant. AVe give this hint to the 

 sportsman that he may profit by it, if it suit 

 his inclination. 



About the beginning of winter, ring-dovo3 

 assemble in great flocks, and leave oft' cooing. 

 The multitude thus collected during that 

 season, is so disproportioned to those which 

 continue here the whole year, as to render it 

 certain that by far the greater part of them 

 quit the country in the spring. It is most 

 probable that these pass into Sweden and the 

 adjoining countries, to breed ; and return thus 

 far southwards in autumn, from being unable 

 to sustain the rigours of that climate in the 

 wniter months. They again begin to coo in 

 March ; soon after whicli, those that are lefc 

 among us, commence their preparations lor 

 breeding. 



597 



