18 PIGEONS. 



with the useful art of creeping and skulking. In general, however, they are rather 

 shy, and very seldom allow a person to advance openly within sixty or seventy 

 yards. It is not uncommon to kill four or five at a shot ; and on this subject I 

 have heard many marvellous tales in the Hebrides ; but as I intend to confine my 

 relation to my own experience, I can only state that, during a snow-storm, when 

 the pigeons had assembled in a corn-yard remote from houses, I once killed 

 twenty-three at three successive shots ; that is, nine for the first, eight for the 

 next, and six for the third. Two or three wounded made their escape to the rocks 

 in the immediate neighbourhood. 



" The manners of the Rock Doves are similar to those of our domestic pigeons, 

 which are evidently descended from individuals of this species. When searching 

 for food, they walk about with great celerity, moving the head backwards and 

 forwards at each step, the tail sloping towards the ground, and the tips of the 

 wings tucked up over it. In windy weather they usually move in a direction more 

 or less opposite to the blast, and keep their body nearer to the ground than when 

 it is calm, the whole flock going together. "When startled, they rise suddenly, 

 and by striking the ground with their wings, produce a crackling noise. When at 

 full speed they fly with great celerity, the air whistling against their pinions. 

 Their flight is very similar to that of the Ringed and Golden Plovers, birds which 

 in form approach very nearly to the pigeons, as may be seen more especially on 

 comparing their skeletons. They usually alight abruptly when the place is open 

 and clear, and, if very hungry, immediately commence their search ; although on 

 alighting they frequently stand and look around them for a few moments. On 

 other occasions, however, they fly over the field in circles, descending gradually. 

 When flying from the rocks to the places where they procure their food, and 

 when returning in the evening, they do not mount high in the air ; and when 

 passing over an eminence they fly so low as almost to touch it. When the 

 wind is very high, and their course is against it, they fly in the same manner, 

 taking advantage of the shelter. It used to afford me much pleasure, and 

 probably would be interesting to most people, to observe, from one of the wild 

 headlands of Harris, the pigeons flying swiftly and silently towards their homes, 

 along the cliffs, while every now and then a string of cormorants, gannets, or 

 guillemots would come up, and a straggling flock of gulls pursue their route in a 

 desultory manner. 



" The notes of the Rock Dove resemble the syllables coo-roo-coo quickly 

 repeated, the last prolonged. Its nuptials are celebrated with much cooing and 

 circumambulation on the part of the male. A love-scene among the rocks is 

 really an interesting sight. Concealed in a crevice or behind a projecting cliff, 

 you see a pigeon alight beside you, and stand quietly for some time, when the 

 whistling of pinions is heard, and the male bird shoots past like an arrow, and is 

 already beside his mate. Scarcely has he made a rapid survey of the place, when, 

 directing his attention to the only beautiful object which he sees, he approaches 

 her. erecting his head, swelling out his breast by inflating his crop, and spreading 



