BOOK X Li. 103-L11. 106 



back in a furrow and catches hold of a clod of earth 

 with her claws and covers herself ^vith it. 



The Hfe of partridges is beUeved to extend to 

 as much as sixteen years. 



LII. Next to partridges the habits of pigeons ifatingof 

 are most noticeable for a similar reason. These ^^"'"'' 

 possess the greatest modesty, and adultery is un- 

 known to either sex ; they do not violate the faith 

 of wedlock, and they keep house in company — 

 unless unmated or widowed a pigeon does not leave 

 its nest. Also they say that the cock pigeon is 

 domineering, and occasionally even unkind, as he 

 is suspicious of adultery although not himself prone 

 to it ; in this state his throat is full of complaining 

 and his beak deals savage pecks, and upon his satis- 

 faction there follows bilUng and fawning with repeated 

 twirUngs of his feet during his entreaties for in- 

 dulgence. Both partners have equal affection for 

 their ofFspring ; this also often gives occasion for 

 chastisement, when the hen is too slack in coming 

 home to the chicks. When she is producing a 

 brood she receives comfort and attendance from the 

 cock. For the chicks at first they collect saltish 

 eai*th in their throat and disgorge it into their beaks, 

 to get them into proper condition for food. It is a 

 pecuUarity of this species and of the turtle-dove not 

 to raise the neck backward when drinking, and 

 to take copious draughts Uke cattle. 



We have authorities for saying that wood-pigeons Thewood- 

 Uve to be thirty and in some cases forty years old, ^^^"'^' 

 only with the single inconvenience of their claws — 

 this also a sign of old age — which have to be cut to 

 prevent damage. The cooing of all is aUke and the 

 same, composed of a phrase repeated three times and 



359 



