180 THE PIGEON : 



Twelfth Night, where Fabian, speaking of Malvolio to 

 Andrew Aguecheek, says : — 



" Contemplation makes a rare turkey-cock of him : how 

 he jets under his advanc'd plumes ! " — Twelfth Night, 

 Act ii. Sc. 5, 



The Pigeon and the Dove are repeatedly mentioned in 

 the works of Shakespeare, although on different grounds. 

 The former bird is noticed as a letter-carrier [Titus Au- 

 dronicus, Act iv. Sc. 3), as an article of food {Henry IV. 

 Part II. Act v. Sc. 1), and as an example of conjugal 

 fidelity and attachment to offspring (As You Like It, Act i. 

 Sc. 2, and Act iii. Sc. 3). The latter is alluded to 

 as the emblem of peace (Henry IV. Part I. Act iv. 

 Sc. 1. ; Henry VIII. Act iv. Sc. 1), modesty (Taming of 

 the Shrew, Act iii. Sc. 2), patience (Hamlet, Act v. 

 Sc. 1), innocence (Henry VI. Part II. Act iii. Sc. 1), 

 fidelity (Troilus and Cressida, Act iii. Sc. 2 ; Winter's Tale, 

 Act iv. Sc. 3), and love (Venus and Adonis ; Henry VI 

 Part I. Act ii. Sc. 2 ; Romeo and Juliet, Act ii. Sc. 5). 



In one passage only is the word " dove " used synony- 

 mously for " pigeon." In Romeo and Juliet we are told of 

 the nurse " sitting in the sun under the afoz^-house wall " 

 (Act i. Sc. 3). 



The practice, here alluded to, of keeping pigeons in a 

 domesticated state is of very ancient date. Mr. Darwin 

 has been at considerable pains to collect information 



