134 EXPERIMENT. [CHAP. v. 



by a neighbour who has a pure and choice stock. Two 

 birds were reared, and they remained confined in company 

 with the other Pigeons in the loft. During this time 

 they were certainly shyer and wilder than other 

 squeakers of the same age, and avoided, as much as 

 they could, the society of the rest of their companions. 

 Our whole stock of Pigeons then a miscellaneous lot 

 about four and twenty in number had never been flown, 

 but were kept constantly in confinement. When the 

 Blue Rocks were about two months old, it was hoped 

 that the other birds had become sufficiently attached to 

 their home to be allowed to take a little outdoor exer- 

 cise, and it was never suspected that any caution need 

 be exercised with young birds hatched upon the spot. 

 So one evening the prison door was thrown open : circle 

 after circle was traced in the air ; great was the clap- 

 ping of wings, and proud were the struttings upon the 

 roof-ridge. But our confidence was not abused, though 

 some of them were old birds, and had been brought 

 from a former home. They all re-entered their loft, 

 except one or two that could not find their way in on 

 this first indulgence with liberty, and which were taught 

 the mode of entrance on the occasion of a subsequent 

 airing ; all, except the strongest Blue Rock, the other 

 not being yet able to perform long and continued flights. 

 Instead of entering the house at reasonable supper- 

 time, the runaway amused itself with illustrating Vir- 

 gil's beautiful line 



" Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas." 

 " It cuts its liquid way, nor moves its rapid wings." 



It honoured us for a short time by spending the night 

 on the roof of the house ; where it passed the day, or 



