280 CLASS AVES. 



also the power of moving both lids of each eye, by which it 

 can remove the luminous rays that would impede vision, and 

 receive those alone, which bring the images of objects in cer- 

 tain directions. 



It would also appear that the hearing of these birds is 

 tolerably perfect. A story is told of a pigeon that was con- 

 tinually attracted to the window of an apartment, where a 

 young girl used to play an air of HandeFs on the piano ; 

 every time the bird heard this, it would leave every thing, 

 even the nest. It cannot, however, be at all supposed that 

 the organ of hearing is so perfect in these birds as in many 

 of the passeres and climbers. 



Their taste seems to be peculiarly delicate ; they will for a 

 long time examine and touch with their tongue any food 

 which is presented to them, and to which they are not accus- 

 tomed. They can only be habituated to drink mineral waters 

 by totally depriving them of all other kinds. They show a 

 most extreme repugnance for everything bitter. 



The pigeon, though inferior in this respect to many other 

 animals, is not at all devoid of intelligence. All these birds 

 have the faculty of memory, and certain races more than 

 others. Some seem to transmit it to their adulterated offsprings. 

 Thus the carrier pigeon possesses to a high degree the memory 

 of the places which it has inhabited, and shows a decided 

 bent, very difficult to overcome, for returning there. But they 

 not only remember places, but modes of action ; for instance — 

 if any particular method of catching them in an aviary has 

 been adopted, they will afterwards recognize the least gesture 

 that was employed in such an operation, and take their 

 measures to avoid its effect. Still it must be owned, that 

 although they recollect, and for a long time, whatever has 

 been dangerous or disagreeable to them, they have not the 

 same remembrance of favours, or recognition of those who have 

 fed and cherished them. 



