276 



CLASS AVES. 



as from a watch tower, the bird can perceive his enemy at a 

 distance, and provide for his own security. 



It is difficult, in consequence of this suspicious disposition, 

 to approach the ring pigeons very nearly. Their greatest 

 enemies are the marten, the kite, and the falcon. The fruits 

 of the pine, the fir tree, and the larch, constitute their prin- 

 cipal food ; they are also fond of beech-mast and acorns. It 

 is said, that when they are fed on myrtle-berries, their flesh 

 acquires an exquisite flavour. 



Buffon supposes that the largest races of our domestic 

 pigeons proceed from the ringdove. This supposition is 

 doubtless erroneous, as we do not find among them any in- 

 dications of such an origin, and the ringdove, will not propa- 

 gate with the biset, even in a state of captivity. The ring 

 pigeon is found in many countries of Asia and Africa, as 

 well as in Europe. 



The Stock Pigeon is a wild species, like the last, with which 

 it has considerable affinity in its mode of life and disposition. 

 They are fond, however, of the society of their consimilars, and 

 are seen to fly in great bands, either on their arrival or depar- 

 ture. Many coveys from the same district unite for this pur- 

 pose, and fly only during the day, but halt most generally in 

 lofty forests. In the month of October, the stock dove 

 emigrates to a milder climate, and returns about March, 

 usually revisiting, in preference, the peculiar districts which 

 it has occupied before, in the preceding year. In fifteen days 

 or three weeks after its arrival, the band separates into 

 couples for the purpose of reproduction. They live and 

 nestle in woods, preferring the lofty trees that grow in the 

 neighbourhood of cultivated countries ; they sometimes make 

 their nest in the hole of a worm-eaten tree, but never in those 

 of old towers, &c., like the biset pigeon. They live on all 

 kinds of grain. 



This pigeon has two broods, annually, and the young are 



