166 BIKDS 



one we have named " Little Mother," who is the most 

 tame and the most devoted, and, often, all day like one 

 brooding, she keeps her place on the railing, and would, 

 we suspect, though we have not ventured to make the 

 experiment, eat out of our hands. Last June we went 

 abroad not without leaving strict injunctions about the 

 feeding of our pets and when we returned the young 

 birds, whose first appearance we had awaited with much 

 anxiety and curiosity, were already well grown, and quite 

 accustomed to come to our windows with their elders. 

 They joined readily in the general indignation when, in 

 the summer, several of the balconies were filled with 

 geraniums and other plants, and revenged themselves upon 

 us by devouring as many buds and young leaves as they 

 could reach. But we had not the heart to frighten them 

 away. 



With what pleasure would we write of the habits and 

 even the idiosyncrasies, of these our feathered companions, 

 if their kind had not been made the subject of exhaustive 

 studies. One pigeon appeared for several mornings with 

 a piece of thread entangled in its foot, from which hung 

 a long needle. We feared for its safety, and wasted 

 much persuasion on the silly creature, who would not 

 allow us to take it in our hands. But perhaps it was 

 wise. Has not rumour reached us of a housekeeper who, 

 supposing we were fattening these pigeons for some good 

 purpose, took advantage of their tameness to capture more 

 than one to convert them into pigeon pie? If our indig- 

 nation was disproportionate to the offence, if at the news 

 we brushed a tear away, we are not ashamed. Nor do we 

 share the sentiments of a little American girl who once 

 explained to use that none of the chickens which she 

 reared were ever sold, as she was sure they would prefer 

 to be eaten by those who loved them. While we write 

 half a dozen of our pigeons watch us witE curious eyes 

 through the window. They have been there this last 

 half hour, and how strangely their soft cooing sounds 



