THE KINGDOVE. 



Coin tuba palumbas. 



HIS bird is perhaps more gene- 

 rally known in country districts 

 as the Wood-pigeon, whilst it 

 also possesses in some localities 

 the name of Cushat, which 

 latter name more generally 

 applies to poetical references. 



The voice of the Ringdove 

 must have been heard by every- 

 one in the habit of walking in 

 the country where trees are 

 plentiful. Sometimes, accord- 

 ing to the tenor of the hearer's 

 thoughts or mental condition, 

 the soft ' ' coo-coo, co-co-cooo " 

 has a soothing, sometimes a 

 melancholy influence ; and we 

 have known persons particu- 

 larly irritated by the weari- 

 some iteration. But what 

 poetry would do without the 

 voice and reputed faithful- 

 ness of the Dove as a rhyme to 

 " love/' only those who have 

 never scribbled verse can tell. 



