THE PIGEON. 



Particulars oi the ring-dove. 



on a trifling wager, sent a carrier-pigeon from 

 London bv the coach to a friend at St. Ed- 

 inund's-bury ; and along with it a note, desiring 

 that the pigeon two days after its arrival there, 

 might be thrown up precisely when the town 

 clock struck nine in the morning. This was ac- 

 cordingly done ; and the pigeon arrived in Lon- 

 don, and flew into the Bull-inn, in Bishopsgate- 

 gtreet, at half an hour past eleven o'clock, of ths 

 same morning, having flown seventy-two miles 

 and a half. 



The carrier is easily distinguished from the 

 other varieties, by a broad circle of naked white 

 kin round the eyes, and by its dark blue of 

 blackish 'colour. 



The ring-dove, another species, is the largest 

 of all the British pigeons, generally weighing 

 about twenty ounces ; and may at once be dis- 

 tinguished by its size from all the rest. The fe- 

 male builds on the branches of trees, generally 

 preferring those of the pine. The nest is large 

 and open, formed principally of dried sticks; ancl 

 the eggs, which may be frequently seen through 

 the bottom of the nest, are larger than those of 

 the domestic pigeon. 



The food of this, as well as of the carrier, is 

 principally grain: but a neighbour of the Rev. 

 Mr. White, of Selborne, shot a ring-dove as it 

 was returning from feeding, and going to roost; 

 and when his wife had picked and drawn it, she 



