CHAP. iii.J WHAT FORMER ORNITHOLOGISTS TELL US. 83 



sity of Pigeons is found in Europe, and principally, as 

 I hear, with the Belgae, and, among these, with the 

 Dutch, that I could scarcely credit what I was told by 

 a man who in other respects is most trustworthy. I 

 also remember that this nation, if any, takes an extra- 

 vagant delight in Pigeons, and therefore keeps as many 

 sorts as possible. For that gentleman told me that, 

 besides the common domestic and Rock Pigeons, of 

 which they had besides an immense number, there was 

 a certain sort generally twice the size of the common 

 dove-house kind, with bristly, that is feathered feet, 

 which, while it is flying, and while it is cooing, swells 

 out its crop into an immense tumour ; the larger they 

 display it in their flight, the better bred they are pro- 

 nounced to be. That kind is called kroppers, that is, 

 large-throated Pigeons, with which name they also come 

 to us, for they are sometimes brought even to Italy. 

 Ornithologus records that he observed Pigeons at 

 Venice, which were almost equal to Hens in size ; but 

 his belief that they are the produce of tamed Ring 

 Doves of the largest size, is in my judgment entirely 

 wrong, for Ring Doves are never tamed. But whether 

 those, which that gentleman said were kept in Holland, 

 be the same with the Campanian Pigeons of Pliny, who 

 writes that the largest are bred in Campania, I dare not 

 affirm, although meanwhile I would not in the least 

 deny. Bellonius certainly is of his opinion, and asserts 

 that those are mistaken who suppose that Pliny and the 

 other ancients were unacquainted with them." 



The intelligent reader, who can bring to this sub- 

 ject a mind unprejudiced by previous statements and 

 opinions, and who can, as he would be advised by an 

 impartial judge, banish from his thoughts whatever he 



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