THE RINGDOVE. 361 



so constant as is that of the ringdove. I have- never yet seen it 

 vary, and the white spot or segment of a circle on the back of its 

 neck, from which it takes its name, is always of the same size. 



Ringdoves are exceedingly numerous here during summer, and 

 when winter sets in, many thousands come every evening to take up 

 their quarters for the night. They retire early to roost, and never 

 leave the trees till all the other birds are on the stir. 



As yet all attempts to reclaim this pigeon have been of no avail. 

 I should suppose that it is not in the power of man to make it breed 

 within the walls of a dovecot. For my own part, I am not exactly 

 aware that its reduction to domestication would be productive of 

 much advantage to us. Let others oifer it the same protection it 

 enjoys with me, and there would always be an ample supply of ring- 

 doves to fill their groves with softest murmurs, and furnish their 

 fables with a delicious repast. Connoisseurs tell us that the flesh 

 of the ringdove, in winter, has the flavour of moor-game. I have fed 

 on pigeons in many countries, but cannot say that I ever found them 

 vary in taste from the pigeon which inhabits our common dovecots. 

 Much, perhaps, depends upon the cooking. The culinary art, no 

 doubt, with other important sciences, has derived great benefit from 

 the march of intellect. In London they will serve you up a ram 

 cat for a Martlemas rabbit ; and we are told that in Paris a pair ot 

 old hunting boots can be stewed down to a very excellent and 

 wholesome soup. 



" Nil equidem durare diu sub imagine eadem 

 Crediderim." 



<{ These cooks will suffer nothing to remain 

 In pristine flavour, or its shape retain." 



