CHAPTER Vt. 



PIGEONS NOT CAPABLE OF TRUE DOMESTICATION. 



The Stockdove. Natural instincts. The Ring Dove. Mischief done by. The 

 Turtle Dove. Peculiarities. Australian Pigeons. Whether domesticable. 

 The Wonga-Wonga. Claims to notice. Mr. Gould's opinion. Bronze-winged 

 Pigeons. Native habits. Water guides. Temminck's account. Plumage. 

 Interest of Australian Pigeons. Have bred in confinement. Captain Sturt's 

 accounts. Abstinence from water. Aid in extremities. Ventriloquist Pigeon. 

 Geopelia tranquillae. Harlequin Bronze-wing. First discovery. Food and 

 habits. Their doings at Knowsley. Graceful Ground Dove. Minute birds 

 and beasts of Australia. Mr. Gould's account. Crested Australian Pigeons. 

 Their breeding at Knowsley. Habits in captivity. The Passenger Pigeon. 

 Disposition. Escaped birds. The Long-tailed Senegal Dove. Their song. 

 Synonyms. Aviary management. 



HEEE we have a wide field, from which only a few 

 gleanings can be gathered in illustration of our main 

 subject, which the reader will perceive to be " Birds in 

 their relation to human society." The precedence in 

 these notices shall be given to the Pigeons of our own 

 Island. 



The STOCK DOVE (C. (Enas) makes a very elegant and 

 pleasing aviary bird. Its plumage is rich, bluish gray 

 being the prevalent hue ; and the changing colours of 

 the neck are more gemlike than those of common 

 Pigeons. Taken from the nest when young, it is easily 

 reared, and becomes as familiar and apparently as much 

 attached to home as the other sorts usually kept. But 

 as the birds get older, a pining for the woods comes over 

 them ; they make excursions to the neighbouring groves, 

 returning less and less frequently to the place where 

 they have been nurtured and are still supplied with 

 food by man, till at last they are utterly fascinated by 



