278 CLASS AVES. 



flocks. They often produce three times in the year, lay, 

 within an interval of two days, almost always two eggs, and 

 but seldom three. They never bring up more than two young 

 ones, one of which is usually a male, and the other a female. 

 Many, among which are the youngest females, lay but once. 

 The spring brood is the most numerous, at least in our Euro- 

 pean climates. The dove-cotes should not be placed too near 

 our habitations. A quiet place, a fine prospect, an eastern 

 aspect, and an elevated situation, suit the pigeons best. 



The pigeons are, as we know, granivorous birds, and 

 though many wild species feed on insects, our domestic races 

 do not follow this example, except in cases of necessity. They 

 may, however, be brought to eat minced meat. Of lettuce and 

 sorrel they are particularly fond, and also of sea-salt ; this 

 last substance cannot be nutritious, but it is very salutary to 

 these birds ; it facilitates digestion, and is frequently an ex- 

 cellent remedy for many of their complaints. It possesses so 

 much attraction for them, that they are frequently known to 

 undertake voyages in search of it; they will sometimes travel 

 many miles from their habitual sojourn, to reach the sea coast 

 for the purpose of obtaining it ; there they may be observed, 

 for hours, searching for it among the cliffs, and picking the 

 detritus of various substances which are impregnated with it- 

 The saline springs which are found in different countries, are 

 also visited in this way by the pigeons in their neighbour- 

 hood. From the observation of this habit, a practice has 

 prevailed, from time immemorial, of giving marine salt to 

 domestic pigeons ; but it is to be noticed, that if a moderate 

 use of it be beneficial to these birds, the excess of it is exceed- 

 ingly prejudicial. Given in a combination or confection with 

 farinaceous substances, it is found to be injurious ; it renders 

 such substances difficult of digestion, which might be Avell 

 conjectured from the known fact that salted provisions of all 

 kinds are more or less indigestible. Salt, as an accompaniment 



