THE DOVECOTE. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



Pigeons differently constituted to other domestic birds. Interest attached to 

 them. Pets of childhood. Paradoxical increase. Effect of captivity on the 

 productiveness of some birds. Beauty of the Columbidae. Earliest history. 

 The olive branch. Arab legend. Ancient domestication. Feral pigeons. 

 Domestic pigeons long established in America. Not found among the Egyptian 

 monuments. Ancient pigeon-fanciers. Messenger birds. Agents of super- 

 stition. Misrepresentation. Use during sieges. Ancient pigeon-houses and 

 fatting-places. -Cato a pigeon-fatter. The Mosaic doves of the Capitol. 

 Friendship of the kestrel. Charms for dovecotes. Effectual attractions. 

 Patronized by commercial people. 



WHAT a wide gulph separates the Pigeons from all 

 our other captive or domestic birds ! How completely 

 discrepant are all their modes of increase and action, 

 their whole system of life, their very mind and affec- 

 tions ! Compare them with the gallinaceous tribes, and 

 they scarcely seem to belong to the same class of beings. 

 These walk the ground, those glide on air ; these lazily 

 gorge and fatten at home, those traverse whole dis- 

 tricts and cross wide seas to obtain an independent 

 supply of nutriment. The Gallinacea are sensual and 

 tyrannical ; though gallant and chivalrous, yet they are 

 faithless ; they are pugnacious, even murderous ; and 

 life-destroyers for the gratification of their appetite 

 merely. The Columbida are amorous, beseeching, full of 

 affectionate attachment, quarrelling solely in defence of 

 their mates or their young, content to subsist on fruits 



B 



