Our Wild Pigeons. 23 



of this : the one nesting in trees, the other never. Three 

 years ago I would have added that only the one perched 

 upon trees, the other never. But I have of late had evi- 

 dence that this, though in accordance with the universal 

 belief, would be incorrect. 



In my stable-yard there is a proper pigeon-house, 

 which for some time had been untenanted. Three years 

 ago I re-stocked it with some half-dozen pairs, among 

 which there were most of the sports or varieties of Fan- 

 tails, Tumblers, Carriers, and the like. The pigeon 

 quarters are in a loft over the coach-house, the entrance 

 to them being through a network of holes in the gable, 

 close to which grow several tall trees, beeches, limes, 

 chestnuts, and oaks. Some days after introducing the 

 pigeons to their new dwelling-place I was surprised to 

 observe them perching upon the trees ; not only those 

 contiguous to the gable, but others full fifty yards off, in 

 the ornamental grounds. Nor did it seem a mere momen- 

 tary caprice, a dropping down upon the branches to fly 

 instantly up again. Instead, they sat contentedly there, 

 often for hours at a time. My servants, and all who saw 

 them thus roosted, were as astonished as myself, saying 

 they had never seen the like before. As several Quests 

 were moving about among the same trees, and occasionally 

 alighting upon them, I had hopes to see courtship and 

 marital connections established between the wild and the 

 tame, thus contradicting all past experience. But, no ! 

 Beyond gazing at one another — the wild birds, no doubt, 

 the more astonished of the two, seeing their domain 

 thus intruded upon — the acquaintance went no farther. 

 Congeners and cousins though they were, no love, affinity, 

 or attachment sprang up between them. 



Oddly enough, after the first few weeks the House 



