92 PTGEONS MONDAINS. [CHAP, iv- 



" The Shakers, and those which have the tail only 

 partially elevated, are of this race." 



The BUNTS are by far the largest and heaviest race of 

 domestic Pigeons, and are less known and cultivated in 

 this country than they deserve to be, mainly because 

 their powers of flight are not such as to afford much 

 amusement to the amateur. But they are very prolific, 

 if placed in favourable circumstances. A pair, for 

 which I am indebted to Mr. James Kemp, of Great 

 Yarmouth, last season (1849) produced twelve young 

 ones. Their heaviness unfits them for being the occu- 

 pants of ordinary dovecotes ; and they are best accom- 

 modated in a low house or nesting-place, raised only a 

 few feet from the ground. Many a rabbit-hutch would 

 be very easily convertible into a convenient Runt-locker, 

 where the birds might be petted, and wherein they 

 would bring forth abundantly. The Runts prefer walk- 

 ing and resting on the ground, to perching on buildings, 

 or strutting on roofs*. Hence Buffon very properly 

 calls them Pigeons mondains, which we might English 

 by applying to them the designation of Ground- Doves, 

 were not that term already appropriated by a family of 

 foreign wild Pigeons. The eggs of Runts are much 

 larger than those of other breeds, as may be seen by 

 the outline here given, of the exact natural size, of eggs 

 of the Runt, the Nun, and the Collared Turtle, to show 

 their relative proportions. Buffon truly says that the 

 mondains are nearly as big as little Hens. A note of 



* Their love of slightly-elevated nesting-places has long been 

 observed. " Perchance these may be the same with those which, 

 Aldrovandus tells us, are called by his countrymen Colombe sotto 

 banche, that is, Pigeons under forms or benches, from their place ; 

 of various colours, and bigger than the common wild Pigeons in- 

 habiting Dove-cotes." Willughby, p. 181. 



