6 CAPTIVE BIRDS SOMETIMES LESS PROLIFIC. [CHAP. i. 



the Partridge, the Turkey, the Guinea-fowl, and even 

 the Hen, notwithstanding the multitudinous broods 

 they lead forth, are not nearly so abundant, the closest 

 approach to them among gallinaceous birds being per- 

 haps made by the Quail. But a due attention to the 

 growth, mode of rearing, and subsequent proceedings, 

 of the young Pigeons go far to explain how so vast and 

 anomalous a result is obtained from means apparently 

 so inadequate, and which thus becomes less puzzling to 

 us than the existence of immense flocks of Sea-fowl, of 

 species which never lay but a single egg, and that only 

 once a year. These, however, are probably much in- 

 debted for their numbers to their hardiness and lon- 

 gevity, as well as to their security from serious perse- 

 cution. The Pigeon, on the contrary, seems to have 

 overspread the land in consequence of an innate force 

 of reproductiveness with which it seems to have been 

 purposely and providentially endowed for the sake of 

 affording a suitable prey to the numerous fleshly ap- 

 petites on earth and in air, of winged, quadruped, and 

 reptile gluttons which are perpetually craving to be 

 daily satisfied. 



All this destiny of supplying meat to the eater would 



ing out an egg or one of its young. I have frequently taken two 

 from the same nest, and reared them. A curious change of habits 

 has taken place in England in those Pigeons which I presented to 

 the Earl of Derby in 1830, that nobleman having assured me that 

 ever since they began breeding in his aviaries, they have laid only 

 one egg." Audubon's Orn. Biog. vol. v. p. 552. A similar de- 

 creased number of eggs and young is frequently produced by other 

 birds in captivity, as, for instance, sometimes in the Collared Turtle. 

 A Canary hen, mated with a Linnet, has with me this summer 

 (1849) laid a single egg, the young one from which she has reared 

 with the anxiety and care usually bestowed upon only children. I 

 have heard of other like cases of Canaries producing a solitary egg 

 and young one. 



