COLUMBA LIYIA. 



(The Rock-Pigeon.) 

 By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY. 



" Then it came to pass that a pestilence fell on the city. 

 Presaged by wondrous signs, and mostly by flocks of wild pigeons, 

 .Darkening the sun in their flight, with nought in their craws but an acorn." 



Longfellow : Evangeline. 



Evangeline did not receive any addition to her troubles from Columha 

 livia, the original of our dovecot birds. It, however, once caused me 

 some ; for, shooting this species in my earlier days, at Mingaree Castle 

 (a ruin on the coast of Argyle, in the Sound of Mull), I had such a tumble, 

 from rocks concealed in long grass, as kept me quiet for a time. 



Still worse was the bad luck of Edward Barttelot, of Stopham, who is 

 stated, in the pedigree of that ancient Sussex family, to have been disinherited 

 for eating a Pigeon on Good Friday (cf. ' Sussex Archaeological Collections,' 

 vol. xxvii. p. 52). 



The speed of the Pigeon has often been noted ; but the following is of 

 interest, taken from 'Land and Water,' July 21, 1877 : — 



" Race between a Pigeon and an Express Train. 



"A most interesting race took place last week, from Dover to London, 



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