118 



generalship, by cutting off the telegrams, as they do, to the best of their judgment, cut 

 off the springs or streams that supply the fortress. This could be obviated by the use 

 of Pigeons. It is the last of my thoughts to endeavour to instruct able generals or 

 brave officers, nevertheless, I think they have lost ground on the subject I am writing. 

 You will perceive by Moore, paragraphs 142 to 148, besides the accounts you have of 

 Flying Pigeons, I cannot help thinking they would have been of infinite use in India, 

 where such sad occurrences have taken place ; it would have been a great blessing if 

 the late brave Havelock and other brave ofl&cers had been able to carry on a correspon- 

 dence with the Governor-General at Calcutta by Pigeons, when every other means were 

 cut off. It might not be amiss to have some of these sharp Pigeons doing to and fro 

 Dover Castle, the Horse Guards, Admiralty, &c.. The gentlemen of the turf and 

 stock jobbers understand them. I have an account now lying before me of two Ant- 

 werp Pigeons winning the first prizes at Brussels, by performing and homing six hun- 

 dred miles in twelve hours and forty minutes, nearly fifty miles per hour ; at ail events 

 doing each mile in one minute and sixteen seconds, for six hundred consecutive miles. 

 "Who wiU doubt of some Pigeons doing a mile a minute. Gentlemen of the Flying 

 Fancy ' ' simply" think of this. 



THE COLUMBAEY; 



BEING A SERIES OF PAPERS ON PIGEONS, 



EXTRACTED PROM THE 



POULTRY CHRONICLE AND FIELD NEWSPAPER. 

 (By Permission of the Author, Mr. B. P. Brent.) 



OUR NATIVE DOVES. 



THE RING DOVE. 



282. In England there are three varieties of the Dove that nestle in our woods — the 

 Ring Dove, the Stock Dove, and the Turtle Dove. The first of these I will endeavour 

 to describe. The Ring Dove, also known by the names of Chussut, Quest, or Great 

 Wood Pigeon, is the largest, being considerably larger than any of our tame Pigeons. 

 Their colour is an ashy blue, the chest inclining to pinky brown ; the flight feathers are 

 dusky slate colour, and the tail barred with black ; a white ring nearly encircles the 

 neck ; a band of white skirts the lower edge of the wings when closed, or crosses it in 

 the middle when expanded ; and the under part of the body fades almost to white. 

 The bill is long and of a yellowish white colour : the coverings of the nostrUs are red ; 

 the iris of the eye is a clear pearl ; the legs are short the toes are long, and of a dull 

 red. They are arboreal in their habits, building in trees a nest of sticks ; they lay two 

 eggs at a time, which they rear like other Pigeons. They are of a roaming disposition, 

 often exchanging their haunts ; they feed on corn seeds, acorns, beech mast, ivy-berries, 

 clover, turnips, and many other vegetables. If taken from the nest youug they may 

 be easily tamed, and will breed in confinement. The young ones are of a duller colour 

 than the old birds, and do not have the white ring round the neck till after the first 

 month. Having naturally no fixed abode, they cannot be domesticated ; for when they 

 obtain their liberty, they fly to the woods, and do not understand returning home. 



283. I have for several seasons endeavoured to breed between the Ring Dove and 

 Domestic Pigeon, but have not succeeded ; nor am I aware that it has ever been 

 accomplished. I have, however, at present, a hen Ring Dove paired with a cock Dra- 

 gon Pigeon ; but though they have bvult, laid, and sat, still I have had no produce, 

 owing to the difference that exists in their marriage ceremonies, which each, according 

 the tradition of their fathers, naturally adhere to, I hope, however, by trying the 

 opposite sexes of each, to succeed in abtaining a cross. 



THE STOCK DOVE. 



248. This variety of Wood Pigeon is about the size of the common dovehouse or Rock 

 Pigeon ; they are arboreal in their habits, building in the thickest foliage, but prefer- 



