WordsiwrtK s Tribute of Praise. 93 



said to have made use of them at the siege of Jerusalem, and 

 the old traveller, Sir John Maundeville — " knight, warrior, and 

 pilgrim," as he is styled — who, in the reign of our second and 

 third Edwards, made a journey as far as the borders of China, 

 relates that, " in that and other countries beyond, pigeons were 

 sent out from one to another to ask succour in time of need, 

 and these letters were tied to the neck of the bird." 



But enough of carrier-pigeons. Let us come back to our 

 ring-dove or cushat, brooding on her eggs in the sweet summer 

 woods, as Mr. Harrison Weir has so truthfully represented her. 

 She is not much of a nest-maker. 



" A few sticks across, 



Without a bit of moss, 

 Laid in the fork of an old oak-tree ; 



Coo-goo-roo-o-o, 



She says it will do, 

 And there she's as happy as a bird can be." 



The nest, however, is not at all insufficient for her needs. You 

 see her sitting brooding over her two white eggs in every possi- 

 ble bird comfort ; and whether her mate help her In the build- 

 ing of the nest or not, I cannot say, but he is certainly a very 

 good domesticated husband, and sits upon the eggs alternately 

 with her, so that the hatching, whatever the building may be, 

 Is an equally divided labour. 



Wordsworth sees In this bird an example of unobtrusive 

 home affection. He says : — 



" I heard a stock-dove sing or say 

 His homely tale this very day : 

 His voice was buried among the trees, 

 Yet to be come at by the breeze ; 



