34C NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Am ni|ii.s to domesticate ring-ciovcs. 



found its craw stuffed with the most nice and 

 tender tops of turnips. 



Attempts have frequently been made to do- 

 mesticate ring-doves, by hatching their 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. Mr. 

 Montagu was at considerable pains in endeavours 

 of this nature; and though he so far tamed them 

 within doors, as to have them become exceed- 

 ingly troublesome, yet he never could produce a 

 breed, either by themselves, or with the tame 

 pigeon. Two, bred up together with a male pi- 

 gt j on, were so tame as to eat out of the hand ; 

 but as they showed no signs of breeding in the 

 spring, they were in the month of June, suffered 

 to take their liberty, by the window of the room 

 being left open in which they were confined. It 

 was supposed, that the pigeon might induce them 

 to return to their usual place of abode, either for 

 food or to roost ; but from that moment they as- 

 sumed their natural habits, and nothing more 

 was seen of them, although the pigeon remained. 

 This gentleman bred up a curious assemblage of 

 birds, which lived together in perfect amity: it 

 consisted of a common pigeon, a ring-dove, a 

 white-owl, and a sparrow-hawk; and the ring- 

 dove was master of the whole. 



About the beginning of winter, the ring-doves 

 assemble in great flocks, and leave oflf cooing. 



