
23, 
py the action of the waves, are the appropriate re- 
treats of the pigeon in its wild or natural state.” 
The range of the dove-cot species is very extensive, 
throughout all sea-bord countries. In the rocky 
islands of Africa and Asia and in those of the Medi- 
terranean, it swarms in incredible numbers. The 
rock pigeon, columba livia, reconciled to the cavern 
that man makes for him in the dove-cot, is the deni~ 
zen of our poultry yard. It comes into voluntary 
subjection to its master, who substitutes for it the 
artificial for the real cavern, At morning until 
evening, off and on, it leaves it to enjoy unrestrain- 
ed activity in the spacious heaven, and returns from 
time to time as.much dependent on his own exer- 
ticnsas on his Master’s bounty for support. It was 
the maritime habit of the rock-pigeon that fitted it 
to be the Messenger, in the Deluge, from the Ark. 
No arboreal dove would have been adapted for the 
duty of watching the retiring waters. None of the 
terrestrial pigeons had wings for the excursion, or, 
if they had, would have had instinct to face the 
flood: but the rock pigeon seen in the Orkney 
islands, inhabiting the caves of the coast, and retir- 
ing deep into their retreats, beyond the nestling holes 
of the auks, gulls, and-other aquatic fowls, familiar 
with the tidal incidents of a maritime shore would 
go forth to see if—* the waters were abated from off 
the face of the ground,” and finding the straws and 
leaves lying high and dry, would do what we see 
them do in their nest-building time in our poultry 
yard, come in the evening with a leaf plucked in its 
mouth, as the first flooring mat for the expected 
