The Zoologist — April, 1867. 651 



But to return to our doves : 



" Who will not change a raven for a dove?" 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act ii. Scene 3. 



" Was Mahomed inspired with a dove?" 



Henry VI., Part I., Act iv. Scene 1. 



It is related that Mahomed had a dove which he used " to feed with 

 wheat out of his ear, which dove, when it was hungry, lighted on 

 Mahomed's shoulder and thrust its bill in to find its breakfast, 

 Mahomed persuading the rude and simple Arabians that it was the 

 Holy Ghost that gave him advice." (Sir Walter Kaleigh's ' History 

 of the World,' Book I., Part 1. c. 6). 



" Seems he a dove ? his feathers are but borrowed." 



Henry VI., Part 2., Act iii. Scene T. 



" As soft as dove's down and as white as it." 



Winter's Tale, Act iv. Scene 3. 



" So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, 

 As yon fair lady o'er her fellows shows." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act v. Scene i. 



" So turtles pair 

 That never mean to part." 



Winter's Tale, Act iv. Scene 3. 



" Like an eagle in a dovecote, I 

 Flutter'd your Volscians at Corioli." 



Coriolanus, Act v. Scene 3. 



" I'll sacrifice the lamb that I do love 

 To spite a raven's heart within a dove.'" 



Twelfth Night, Act v. Scene I. 



The custom before alluded to (Zool. S. S. 536) of bestowing a pair of 

 doves as an offering is very ancient, and Izaac Walton tells us that 

 "for the sacrifice of the Law a pair of turtle doves or young pigeons 

 were as well accepted as costly bulls and rams." When Gobbo 

 wished to curry favour with Bassauio, he began by saying : 



" I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow on your worship." 



Merchant of Venice, Act ii. Scene 2. 



Doves and pigeons, probably, were often synonymous terms : we 

 have referred to Justice Shallow's penchant for pigeons, and Paris 

 speaking to Helen of Pandarus, says: — 



