272 OF THE BIRDS WHICH ARE 



decreased. They are particularly numerous along 

 the sea-coast, and among the cultivated islands. The 

 saw palmetto plant, which abounds among these 

 islands, furnishes them an admirable protection 

 against hawks, which are their most destructive 

 enemy. I once received, from a Spanish merchant, 

 a present of a pair of red-legged partridges. I 

 built for them a latticed house, apart from the 

 homestead, and hoped to have propagated the race 

 among us ; but some beast of prey broke through the 

 lattice by night, and destroyed them. I see no reason 

 why they should not be propagated in this region 

 and latitude. The experiment could advantageously 

 be made, by some gentleman who is sole proprietor 

 of an island ; for he would have ample means of 

 security against poachers, and might thus prevent 

 the premature destruction of the coveys. Let me 

 hope that my hint will not be lost, and that some 

 gentleman will succeed in naturalizing them. 



THE DOVE Is strikingly like the wild pigeon in 

 plumage and form. It differs from it in being 

 smaller, and again, in being far superior in richness 

 of flavor and tenderness of fibre. Though it breeds 

 in the country, it is far more numerous in winter 

 than in summer. The pointer notices them ; but 

 they will not stand the point, so that the most 



