BISET OB WILD ROCK-PIGEON. 
165 
ent upon man for support, and Iiave lost the power 
or capability, even when allowed to fly at large, of 
looking for and finding their own food, insomuch 
that, if left to themselves, they would in all likelihood 
perish from hunger and want. In these buildings, 
it is usual to erect a certain number of boxes or di- 
visions against the walls or sides, each calculated to 
accommodate a pair of pigeons, with their nest and 
young. They are best when separated and distinct 
from each other, with a small platform, and an en- 
trance just large enough to admit the bird ; as, when 
disposed in a continuous row, and open in front, the 
birds are apt to interfere with each other, and, by 
their jealousies and contentions, to prevent the due 
increase of eggs and young. To ensure the purity 
of any particular kind, the young males, as soon as 
they shew symptoms of maturity, which is known 
by particular gesticulations and their cooing-notes, 
are placed apart in a chamber constructed for the 
purpose, with a female of the same variety. Here 
they remain till a mutual attachment has taken place, 
after which they may be returned to the general 
aviary or dove-house ; for, when once an alliance is 
efifected, it generally continues undissolved and in- 
violate till the death or removal of one of the parties ; 
on which account many different varieties may be 
kept in the same aviary, or associated together in 
one building, without much apprehension of having 
a contaminated breed. 
