THE PIGEONS. 
27 
birds, perched in their shady bower, may 
escape notice, for their plumage is so like the 
foliage that no one can see them unless they 
move. And they do not care to leave their 
retreat, while the small red figs of the banyan 
are always within their reach. 
The forests of India, and the beautiful woods 
of the Spice Islands, about which I have 
already spoken, abound with pigeons of gor- 
geous colours. They are worthy neighbours 
of the Bird of Paradise, and like it, feed upon 
the precious spices that gi'ow on every hand. 
The head of one is adorned with a crest of 
blue feathers, that always stand erect, and 
spread open like a fan. It is larger than the 
other pigeons, and is called the crowned pigeon, 
because of the crown upon its head, that makes 
it look like a king. It has more than once 
been brought to Europe, and people have tried 
to rear it ; but it cannot live if taken from 
its native woods, and pines away and dies. 
The nutmeg is a favourite food with some 
of the spice-eating pigeons, or rather its soft 
covering and shell, that you know by the 
name of mace. They thrive amazingly upon 
this diet, and become so fat, that when they 
