I 



SOME LESSER DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 97 



efforts were made, and that at a very early date, to bring 

 the Rock Dove under the influence of man in Scotland. 

 These early efforts resulted in the formation of a primitive 

 domesticated race the pigeon of the "doo-cots" which 

 with little variation is found in almost all the maritime 

 countries of the Old World. The steps by which the Rock 

 Dove became the dovecot pigeon of Scotland were of the 

 simplest nature and show how close was the relationship 

 between the two: 



It is probable that at first Rock Doves themselves were 

 killed in quantity for food, but that indiscriminate slaughter 

 threatened the birds with extinction, as in recent times in 

 Fair Isle, and that wise men, observing the danger of rough 

 and ready methods, resolved to encourage the multiplication 

 of this useful bird. So in the very caves frequented by the 

 Rock Doves, pigeon-holes were built and the original "doo- 

 cave " became a primitive pigeon-house accommodating 

 increased numbers of breeding birds. Of seven caves in 

 the parish of Wemyss in Fife, hollowed by a former sea in 

 rocks now far above high water mark, four "were long ago 

 fitted up for pigeon houses." The Rock Doves which in- 

 habited these had taken a first step towards domestication. 



Man led them to a second step by the erection of 

 independent pigeon-houses after his own design. It is 

 impossible to trace the actual sequence of the erection of 

 pigeon-houses, which, in all their differences of shape, and 

 with all their conveniences of entrance and of innumerable 

 nesting holes, still retain the hollow darkness of the ocean 

 caverns. Nevertheless it is highly probable that the first 

 pigeon-houses were erected along the coast near the "doo- 

 caves," like those which crest the cliffs in the neighbour^ 

 hood of the famous pigeon-caves of St Abbs or that which 

 faces the "doo-caves" of Wemyss. As the pigeons became 

 more and more accustomed to their artificial homes, became 

 indeed distinctive "doo-cot" pigeons, the pigeon-houses 

 would gradually extend along the coast to areas uninhabited 

 by wild Rock Doves, and farther and farther inland. So 

 many districts even far from the sea possessed one or more 

 of these curious structures. Yet the coastal origin of the 

 Scottish pigeon-house, and by implication, the coastal origin 

 of its first tenants, are still indicated by the distribution of the 



