50 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
or twelve different species have been enumerated: but the 
common quail is only known in France and England. 
Tub Doves, or Pigeons, are by some naturalists made 
a distinct order of birds, and indeed it must be confessed that 
the pigeon has little affinity with any of the preceding, ex- 
cept its domestic habits, and its utility to man. As’ the 
order, however, consists of too small a number of species, 
and those too well known to require a distinct chapter, we 
shall add whatever occurs upon the subject to the present 
section of our ornithology. 
Ihe Tame Pigeon, and all its beautiful varieties, is said 
to derive its origin from the stock dove, the English name, 
implying its being the stock or stem whence the other do- 
mestic kinds have been propagated. This bird, in its natural 
state, is oi a deep bluish ash-colour ; the breast dashed with 
a fine changeable green and purple; its wings marked with 
two black bars ; and the tail barred near the end with black. 
These are the colours of the pigeon in a state of nature ; and 
from these simple tints has man by art propagated a variety 
that words cannot describe, nor even fancy suggest. How- 
ever, nature still perseveres in her great outline “and thomdi 
the form, colour, and even fecundity of these birds may be 
altered by art, yet their natural manners and inclinations 
continue still the same. 
The dove-house pigeon, as is well known, breeds every 
month ; it lays two white eggs, which most usually produce 
young ones of different sexes. From three or four o’clock in 
the evening, till nine the next day, the female sits on the e>r<r S • 
she is then relieved by the male, who takes his place from 
ten till three, while his mate is feeding abroad. In this 
manner they sit alternately till the young are excluded, 
which is from eighteen to twenty days, accordinor to the 
warmth of the season. If, during this' term, the female de- 
lays to return at the expected hour, the male follows and 
drives her to the nest ; and, should lie in his turn be dilatory 
she retaliates with equal severity. 
The hen pigeon is, however, so constant to her etrgs, that 
one, whose legs were frozen and dropped off, continued to 
sit, notwithstanding the pain which she endured with the 
loss or her limbs, till her young were hatched. Her lews 
were frozen by the nest being too near the entrance of the 
dove-cote, and consequently exposed to the cold air. 
Dm young ones when hatched require no food for the 
three first days, only wanting to be kept warm, which 13 an 
