ROCK DOVE. 



cold nor heat, and positively enjoying rain. I have seen them 

 lying on their sides on the wet grass, holding up a wing the 

 better to let the rain get in among their feathers, and sometimes 

 getting so thoroughly soaked by this natural shower-bath as to be 

 hardly able to fly after it. All they care for is a shelter from 

 the wind. This so-called " Bird of Venus " is proverbial for its 

 amorous disposition ; so much so, that I have known one set his 

 affections on an old croquet ball for want of a more worthy 

 object, and follow it about, strutting round it with spread tail and 

 proud gesticulations, and cooing soft endearments to the insensate 

 block. I have never cared to keep fancy pigeons. They do not 

 seem to me to be any improvement on Nature, except, perhaps, in 

 the case of the Carrier ; but the beak in highly-bred specimens is 

 a monstrosity. It is fortunate for the Pouter that the large 

 windbag under his chin prevents him seeing his own feet, with 

 the long ill-placed feathers projecting, ready to trip him up as he 

 walks. The Fantail is a feeble creature, liable to be blown aside 

 by every blast. I have seen a Tumbler so highly bred and true 

 to its name, that every time it tried to fly it fell on its back. 

 The natives here have a sentimental dislike to killing or eating 

 pigeons. That feeling is said by Yarrell to prevail in Kussia. 

 In Egypt they are a favourite article of food, provided 

 they are killed by bleeding, accompanied by prayers in the 

 orthodox Mohammedan fashion. We were invited to dinner at 

 the house of the captain of our dahabieh, where the banquet 

 consisted chiefly of roast pigeons, served on a tray on the ground, 

 and we sat down round it as we best could. Though, as a rule, 

 strict vegetarians, I have seen a tame pigeon light on the kitchen 



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