660 Birds, 



Notes on the Ring-dove, By the Rev. J. C. Atkinson, B.A. 



Few among the more common of our feathered friends meet with 

 more of my admiration than the ringdove. Of considerable size and 

 great power of wing, its flight is vigorous, easy and rapid ; while the 

 risings and fallings of the male during the season of incubation, add 

 to it a character of peculiar gracefulness. His plumage also, if not 

 strictly beautiful, is certainly handsome ; and from the contrast of the 

 white collar with the prevailing colour of the rest of the plumage, and 

 the beauty of the glossy and varying hues of the neck, peculiar to the 

 pigeon tribe, it is singularly pleasing. And when he is at rest, there 

 is a sort of dignity in his attitude, a repose, and — if I may so call it 

 — self-possession, which by no means detracts from the favourable 

 impression already formed with respect to him. You see him most at 

 disadvantage when on the ground ; for his very short legs do not fit 

 him for graceful progression. But notwithstanding this, 1 regard him 

 with great admiration and not a little interest ; which, if not originat- 

 ing in, is at least greatly increased by, the recollection of former pets, 

 one or two of which renounced their natural shyness and love of un- 

 constrained liberty to a remarkable degree. 



A schoolfellow had taken a nest of young ringdoves, but succeeded 

 in rearing one only. This, on his going home for the holidays, was 

 made over to me ; being then about five weeks old, or rather better, 

 and nearly full-fledged. 



I took him home with great care, and never suffered any one to 

 feed him but myself; and never fed him without accompanying the 

 meal with a certain whistled call : I also accustomed him to take his 

 food from my mouth, or perched on my shoulder. I continued this 

 process for several days ; until, in short, we were on the best and most 

 intimate terms possible : and it is more than likely that his earlier re- 

 miniscences aided me not a little ; for the greater part of his time be- 

 fore he became my property, was spent in the corner of a play-ground 

 tenanted by numerous noisy boys, none of whom were particularly 

 considerate of the poor ring-dove's feelings of timidity and shyness. 

 Until I had succeeded in rendering him quite familiar, I did not ven- 

 ture on taking him out of doors; and when I did so, it was not with- 

 out a measure of caution. I soon found, however, that he had no im* 

 tention of flying away ; and after a day or two I left him to amuse 

 himself during the day-time as he pleased : for we were then living in 

 a very retired district, and I had no fear of his meeting with any mishap. 



