Birds. 1111 



serratures on the under edge of the central claw are extraordinary ; 

 although their true use appears not to have been correctly ascertained. 



Ringdove, Cushat, Columba Palumbus. Abundant in our 

 woods. Builds early in the spring and in the middle of the summer. 

 Its nest is so badly constructed with a few loose sticks placed across 

 each other, that the two white eggs are generally visible from under 

 the tree. This pigeon is excellent eating in the autumn, when it has 

 picked up grain from the stubbles : but in the winter, when it has fed 

 on turnip-tops and other greens, it is very strong and rank. And in 

 the latter season it becomes gregarious. 



Rock Dove, Columba Livia. The figure of the wild pigeon 

 in Bewicks' * British Birds,' vol. i. p. 267, edit. 1797, is this species, 

 which Mr. J. Grey tells me is found in Huntcliff and Rockcliff, on 

 the Cleveland coast. It is the original of our domestic or dove-cot 

 pigeon. The great fondness of the tame sorts for salt, and their not 

 settling or roosting in trees, will tend among other proofs which might 

 be named, to confirm that fact. The mode of drinking of pigeons is 

 singular ; it is not like that of other birds, by sipping, but by continual 

 draughts, like quadrupeds. So it is related by Pennant, to whom, I 

 believe, it was first made known by that amiable observer, White of 

 Selborne. Who, having seen that ancient mosaic, considered by many 

 as the work of Sosus, and the same which Pliny has praised (' Nat. 

 Hist.' lib. 36, cap. 60), representing pigeons drinking from a vase, 

 still preserved among the treasures of antiquity at Rome, does not re- 

 member its exquisite beauty and faithful representation of Nature ? 

 Most of the doves, and particularly the present kind, make a loud 

 noise in flying, more especially in first rising on their flight ; this is 

 caused by their striking their wings together across their backs, which 

 creates a noise much resembling a clapping of the hands. See a short 

 notice on this subject, in illustration of Virgil's beautiful simile of the 

 rock dove, by myself, in the ' Gentleman's Magazine,' vol. vii. (for 

 June, 1837), p. 592. Their dung, or guano, is highly esteemed for 

 manure. Much of it is annually collected from the cliffs near Scar- 

 borough, and sold to the neighbouring farmers for that purpose. 



Turtle Dove, Columba Turtur. Hereabouts this quiet and 

 elegant bird of passage, the emblem of peace, of love and gentleness, 

 is very rare. I possess a specimen of a young female, which I shot 

 near Norton, Sept. 14, 1829. It has not the usual spots of black and 

 white feathers on the sides of the neck, and much resembles the lower 

 figure in Yarrell's engraving at p. 267, vol. ii. A friend also shot one 

 in the same district, about twenty-six years before ; but that bird, 



