CHAP. n.J WIDOWED PIGEONS. 61 



way, thus proving that the conjugal fidelity of the male 

 birds at least has been somewhat exaggerated ; for they 

 were seen in the fact of yielding to the blandishments 

 of the independent spinsters. But the two eggs of the 

 Pigeon produce one male and one female chick in so 

 nearly an invariable manner, that any disproportion in 

 the sexes, by which these aberrations from ordinary 

 rules are caused, arises rather from disease or acci- 

 dent, than from any chance result of the hatchings. 

 Julian curiously mixes up true facts with superstitious 

 notions on this subject. " They say that Doves incu- 

 bate alternately ; when the young appear the male spits 

 on them, to avert by this means, it is said, the evil 

 eye, and that they may not excite envy. The female 

 brings forth two eggs, the first of which always pro- 

 duces a male, the second a female."* This point I 

 have not verified, but it is very likely. ^Eliau, like 

 others who do not strictly adhere to truth, is often 

 doubted when his statements are really correct. He 

 repeats, from Aristotle, the account of the solitary hens 

 coupling together, which we ourselves know to be in 

 accordance with their present habits. 



When a hen Pigeon has the misfortune to lose her 

 mate, by gunning or trapping, she is certainly uncom- 

 fortable for a while, but not inconsolable. She does not 

 go pining on, like poor Lady Russell, exclaiming with 

 her, " I cannot be comforted, because I have not the 

 dear companion and sharer of all my joys and sorrows. 

 I want him to talk with, to walk with, to eat and sleep 

 with ; all these things are irksome to me now ; the day 

 unwelcome, and the night so too!" She does not in any 



* Var. Hist. i. 15. 



