ROCK DOVE. 297 



Hamburgh ; and on this feather (the fourth of the wing,) 

 was a drawing of exquisite design and execution. The 

 ground colour of the feather was of a light dove, the figures 

 being wrought in black. In the centre of a ring were two 

 doves, each holding a letter, and near it the initials of the 

 owner, and the number 119, round which was a motto in 

 German. The whole drawing occupied a space of about 

 an inch square. This feather is still preserved at Spern 

 Head as a great curiosity. 



In Captain Carleton's memoirs there is a description of 

 the Naval Battle of Solebay, fought on the 28th of May 

 1672. The following extract in reference to Pigeons kept 

 on board of ship, is not without interest. " I cannot 

 here omit one thing, which to some may seem trifling, 

 though I am apt to think our naturalists may have a dif- 

 ferent opinion of it, and find it afford their fancies no un- 

 diverting employment in more curious and less perilous 

 reflections. We had on board the London, where, as I 

 have said I was a volunteer, a great number of Pigeons, of 

 which our commander was very fond. These, on the first 

 firing of our cannon, dispersed, and flew away, and were 

 seen nowhere near us during the fight. The next day it 

 blew a brisk gale, and drove our fleet some leagues to the 

 southward of the place where they forsook our ship, yet 

 the day after they all returned safe on board ; not in one 

 flock, but in small parties of four or five at a time. Some 

 persons at that time on board the ship, admiring at the 

 manner of their return, and speaking of it with some sur- 

 prise, Sir Edward Sprage told them, that he brought those 

 Pigeons with him from the Streigths ; and that when pur- 

 suant to his orders he left the Revenge man-of-war to go 

 on board the London, all those Pigeons, of their own ac- 

 cord, and without the trouble or care of carrying, left the 



