276 A DESCRIPTION OF 
Pigeon. This bird is of a pale chocolate or cream-colour, 
with a black ringlet, having white edges, round the neck ; 
the breed is common in Britain. Its habits are like those 
of other birds of the tribe ; but it is so strongly attached 
to its native freedom, that all attempts to domesticate it, 
with a few rare exceptions, have hitherto proved ineffec- 
tual. 
These birds build their nest chiefly on the pine, or holly, 
with dried sticks thrown rudely together ; and the eggs, 
which may frequently be seen through the bottom of the 
nest, are larger than those of the domestic Pigeon. At- 
tempts have been made to domesticate them by hatching 
their eggs under the common Pigeon, but as soon as they 
were able to fly, they always escaped to their proper 
haunts. 
Mr. Montagu bred up a curious assemblage of birds, 
which lived together in perfect amity : is consisted of a 
common pigeon, a Ring-dove, a white owl, and a spar- 
row-hawk ; and the Ring-dove was master of the whole. 
Ring-Dove, beauteous ! is the face 
Of man so hateful, that his sight, 
From thy beechen resting-place, 
Startles thee in wild affright ? 
For I have scared thee from thy trees, 
Tenant of the lonely wild, 
Hearing but the wailing breeze, 
And from, human face exiled. 
Upon ready wing thou rushest 
To the gloom of woods profound, 
And through silent heather brushest, 
With a wild and whirring sound. 
