POULTRY TRIBE. 241 



these birds are gregarious, flocking together all 

 the year round ; and to whatever distance they 

 may range during the day, they invariably return 

 at night. Very wonderful is the instinct which 

 enables these creatures, notwithstanding the 

 height at which they fly, their passing over the 

 sea where there are no marks to guide their 

 course, and all the extent and variety of their 

 range, to return with such unvarying certainty 

 to the place whence they set out. 



He who would see this dove to perfection, must 

 go to nature's own pigeou-house among the cliffs 

 and waves of the Hebrides. " There," says Mr. 

 Mudie, " on some glittering day, when the meri- 

 dian sun lulls birds and breezes into repose, you 

 row swiftly but silently into the portal of some 

 giant cave which rises aloft toward mid-heaven; 

 and while you are contemplating silent nature, 

 the rowers suddenly lift their oars, and dash them 

 against the sides of the boat. The echo is loud ; 

 but the sound of the wings which it wakens into 

 action is louder still ; it is as though the hollowed 

 and craggy isle were falling to pieces about you, 

 and the wide Atlantic were heaving and vibrating 

 to its most distant shore." 



The TURTLE DOVE is the smallest British species. 

 It is a summer visitor, arriving in May, and 

 departing at the approach of autumn. It is not 



E 



