PIGEON. 107 



varieties, all distinguishable by names expressive of their 

 several properties: such as tumblers, carriers, jadbbins, 

 croppers, pouters, vents, turbirs, owls, nuns, &c. 



The domestic pigeon is wonderfully prolific : it lays two 

 eggs, and generally breeds every month, and, except during 

 severe weather, is generally capable of supplying itself 

 with food. The period of incubation is fifteen days, during 

 which the male and the female relieve each other. Their 

 turns are generally regulated with great exactitude : the 

 female usually sits from about four in the evening till nine 

 next morning ; at which time she is superseded by the 

 male, who diligently supplies her place till nearly the 

 return of the same hour, while she is busy, searching for 

 food. If the female should prove negligent of her duty, 

 the male will pursue and drive her to the nest; while, on 

 the other hand, should the male not return at the expected 

 time, his mate will retaliate with equal severity. 



When the young are hatched, they require no food for 

 the first three days, but only to be kept warm. After this, 

 the parents feed them for eight days, by discharging into 

 the mouths of the expectant offspring whatever they have 

 been able to treasure up in their crops. This mode of 

 feeding the young from the crop is peculiar to the family 

 of pigeons; and nature has furnished them with a pretty 

 large receptacle, for the purpose of taking in an ample 

 store of provisions. The males commonly supply the 

 young females, and the females perform the same office 

 for the young males. At first the young are furnished with 

 food considerably macerated ; but as they grow older, the 

 parents gradually diminish the trouble of the preparation ; 

 and at length send them forth to shift for themselves. 

 However, when provisions are plentiful, they do not wait 

 for the total dismission of their young; for it is nothing 

 uncommon to see a brood almost fit for flight, mixed with 

 a set of young ones in one identical nest. 



Among domestic pigeons connubial consistency is seldom 

 long maintained ; the males sometimes contend for the 

 same mistress, and sometimes a kind of amicable exchange 

 takes place between them. 



The fecundity of this bird is so prodigious, that from a 

 single pair nearly 15000 may be produced in the space of 

 four years. Hence, they will repay the charge of providing 

 them with appropriate dwellings and occasional distribu- 

 tions of food. 



