OF BIRDS. 
5 
Their fondnefs for their eggs rs fo great, that 
they will fuller fevere hardfhips, rather than for- 
fake them. A hen Pigeon, whofc box was un¬ 
fortunately placed fo near a window during forne 
very cold weather, that her feet were frozen and 
fell off, flill continued fitting, until fhe had hatch¬ 
ed her young. 
The young Pigeons are generally a cock and a 
hen ; their parents feed them hy firfl: fwallowing 
the grain, and after it is a little foftened in their 
firit ftomach, they throw it back through their 
beaks into the beaks of their young. 
After Pigeons are once paired, they arc very 
conftant! nothing can be more pleafing and ar¬ 
duous than the attention of the mate to his part¬ 
ner, he feems to foilicit her regard by the mod 
interefting manners, he walks frequently round 
her, difplaying himft-lf in a variety of attitudes, 
and calling to her in a note the mod tender and 
plaintive. Of all birds they appear the mod happy 
and affectionate, cooing to, and billing one another 
in a manner that feems to difeover a tenderfcjel's, 
and even a delicacy of attachment. 
The Greeks had improved the breed ofP'reons,. 
and kept them in Dovc-hcufes. Pliny, among 
the Romans, fpcaks of a large breec. . Pigeons 
wi Campania, and of people who, being vtrv cu- 
A 5 
MOU3 
