VARIETIES STOCK DOVE. 151 



from between the bricks, a mischief which may, how- 

 ever, always be obviated by the constant allowance 

 of a SALT-CAT, which will also take their attention 

 from the garden, to which they may be otherwise de- 

 structive. 



On a general view of the subject, it appears that 

 the dove-house system has ever been one of ex- 

 treme injustice, as well as impolicy, in point of na- 

 tional advantage ; for in the first respect, it must 

 unavoidably happen, that great flocks must be main- 

 tained at the expense of persons having no property 

 in them. But as, certainly, neither the public nor 

 individuals will consent to be deprived of the enjoy- 

 ment of this ancient luxury, the fairest mode appears 

 to be, the regular feeding of pigeons by their proprie- 

 tors, which, according to my experience, so attaches 

 them to home, that there is often a necessity of driv- 

 ing them out for exercise. This plan should, of course, 

 be more punctually observed in seed time, and towards 

 the approach of the corn crops to maturity. With 

 respect to the risk of damage from pigeons, which 

 must unavoidably be incurred by the farmer, his in- 

 surance must consist in that vigilance, in which gene- 

 rally he is too defective. 



Buffon enumerates upwards of thirty VARIETIES 

 of the pigeon, which, according to his usual syste- 

 matic plan, its convenience perhaps being rather 

 more obvious than its accuracy, he derives from one 

 root, namely, the STOCK-DOVE, or common wild 

 pigeon. All the varieties of colour and form which 

 we witness, he attributes to human contrivance and 

 fancy. There exist, nevertheless, essential specific 

 H 4 



