1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



195 



l)outl)0' Pcpartment. 



THE KOCK PIGEON, AND EUROPEAN QUAIL. 



The rock or wild pigeon of Europe is well known as 

 the inhabitant of the pigeon houses in various parts 

 of the world, or " dove cots," as they are more 

 frequently called, buildings expressly erected for 

 the purpose of containing colonies of these birds. 

 In this state, where they enjoy a perfect free- 

 dom of action, and are nearly dependent upon 

 their own exertions for support, they can 

 scarcely be called "reclaimed," much less "do- 

 mesticated." Man, indeed, has only taken ad- 

 vantage of certain habits peculiar to the species, 

 and by substitution of an artificial for a real 

 cavern, (their natural habitation,) to which the 

 pigeon house may be compared, has brought it 

 into a kind of voluntary subjection, without vio- 

 lating, or at least greatly infringing upon its 

 natural condition, and has rendered it subservi- 

 ent to his benefit and use. 



In its natural state, the bill of this bird is 

 blackish-brown ; the nostril membrane red, 

 sprinkled, as it were, with a white powder ; the 

 irides, pale reddish-orange ; the head and throat, 

 bluish-grey ; the sides of the neck and upper 

 part of the breast are dark lavender-purple, 

 glossed with shades of green and purplish-red ; the 

 lower part of the breast, abdomen wing coverts, as 

 well as the upper mandible, bluish-grey, the greater 

 coverts and secondaries are barred with black, form- 

 ing two broad and distinct bars across the closed 

 wings ; the lower part of the back is white ; the rump 

 and tail coverts, bluish-grey ; the tail, deep grey, 

 with a broad black bar at the end ; the legs and feet 

 are purplish-red ; the wings, when closed, reach with- 

 in half an inch of the end of the tail. 



cies, no signs nor marks whatever of such being ap- 

 parent in any variety known to us. 



The European Qua?7 very much resembles the 

 American. Besides beauty of form and plumage, 

 the song of the common quail of the Old World is 

 no slight recommendation to the amateur. In the 



ROCK PIGEON. 



It is from the wild rock pigeon, (C. livia,) that all 

 those numerous varieties, or, as they are frequently 

 termed, " races," of the common inhabitants of the 

 dove cot have descended, which are so highly prized, 

 and fostered with such care and attention by the fan- 

 cier, or amateur breeder ; for, however diversified 

 their forms, colors, or peculiarity of habit may be, 

 they are all considered as having originated from a 

 few accidental varieties of the common house pigeon, 

 and not from any cross of that bird with other spe- 



EUROPEAN qUAIIi. 



breeding season, that of the male commences by re- 

 peating softly, toues resembling verra, verra, fol- 

 lowed by the word piercroie, uttered in a bold tone, 

 with the neck raised, the eyes shut, and the head in- 

 clined on one side. Those that repeat the last sylla- 

 bles ten or twelve times, consecutively, are the most 

 esteemed. That of the female only consists of verra, 

 verra, piipu, pupu, the last two syllables being those 

 by which the male and the female attract one anoth- 

 er's attention ; when alarmed or angry, their cry re- 

 sembles guillah! but at other times, it is only a 

 murmur, resembling the purring of a cat. This bird 

 never sings v^hen left to run about in a light room, 

 except during the night, but continually when in a 

 darkened cage. 



In a wild state, the quail feeds on vlieat and other 

 corn, rape seed, millet, hemp seed and the like. It 

 also eats green vegetables, as well as insects, and 

 particularly ants' eggs. 



Eds. Gen. Parmer : — As "variety is the spice of life," per- 

 haps the following problem and enigma may not prove un' 

 welcome to the readers of that always interesting and accept- 

 able portion of the Farmer, the " Vouth's Department." — 

 Please publish and request solutions to them, and oblige 

 W. A. Eqgleston. — Elmivood, III., July, 1851. 



Arithmetical Qcestion. — A farmer has five cribs of 

 corn, containing altogether 2000 bushels. The first contains 

 275 bushels less than the second ; the second, 200 more 

 than the fourth ; the fourth, as many as the first and fifth ; 

 and the fifth, one-fourth as many as the first ; the remainder 

 is the number of bushels contained in the third crib. How 

 much corn is there in each ? 



' Enigma. — I am composed of 16 letters. 

 My 1, 3, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, is one of the United States. 

 3Iy 2, 5, 12, 13, 1, is a part of the human body that we 

 could not for a moment exist without. 



My 4, 16, 10, 9, 6. is a county in the State of New York. 

 My 11, 12, 14, 5, is what all who may solve this enigma, 

 are, or should be, seeking after. 



My 14, 12, 6, is a very singular biped. 

 My 15, 12, 13, is a part of the body. 



My sixteen letters, if you're wise, 



Will show what's now before your eyes. 



