78 COLUMB^E. 



printed in London, and sent by post on the very next 

 evening. 



The white rump, and the two dark bars on the closed wings, 

 which are never wholly obliterated, even when the general 

 colour is almost white, are strong indications of the de- 

 scendant of the rock pigeon. The stronger foot, too, and 

 especially the more spreading toes, so that the outer and inner 

 act nearly against each other, and crosswise to the other two, 

 cannot be mistaken. Farther, the perchers, the ring, and 

 stock-doves, may be confined as individuals but cannot be 

 tamed as races ; the rock-dove needs no taming. 



Domestic pigeons are a tame study ; but there is something 

 more stirring in the observation of the rock-dove in nature's 

 pigeon-house, especially among the cliffs and caves of the 

 Hebrides. On some glittering day, when the meridian sun 

 lulls birds and breezes into repose, you row swiftly but 

 silently into the portal of some giant cave, the entablature of 

 which reaches the mid heaven : and, while you are contem- 

 plating silent nature, the rowers, by a concentrated motion of 

 which you were kept ignorant, lift their oars, and simulta- 

 neously dash them against the sides of the boat. The echo 

 is loud, but the sound of the wings which it wakens into action, 

 is louder. It is as if the hollowed and craggy isle were falling 

 to pieces about you, and the wide Atlantic were heaving and 

 vibrating to its most distant shore. But we dare not begin 

 the description, from the length, and the pain of leaving off. 

 Those who can, should go there, if it were but to see how far 

 nature exceeds and beggars all description. 



THE TURTLE-DOVE (Columba turtur). 



The turtle is the smallest British species ; and in Britain 

 it is a summer migrant, and as such, visits only the south- 

 eastern parts of the island, more especially Kent, the thick 

 coppices of which afford it that depth of shade, and the rich 



