ft 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
Wh en Pigeon-houfcs are at fome difiance, it is 
ncceflary to guard them from birds of prey, inch 
as Hawks and Owls, and even from Magpies. 
The tame Pigeon is in a ftill higher fiate of 
domeftication, its colours and varieties are in¬ 
finite. 
Thcfe Pigeons will breed almoft every month, 
provided there be not too many in the fame Dove- 
houfe ; but then each pair rnuft have three or 
four boxes, and fo contrived that they may not 
fee one another whiift they fit; if the number be 
too great, they will be frequently fighting and 
breaking the eggs. 
1 hey begin to lay at nine months old, and fit 
from feventeen to twenty days ; and as they breed 
fo frequently, it has been calculated that in four 
years one thoufand eight hundred might be pro¬ 
duced from one pair. 
They lay each time two eggs, fcarcely making 
any nefi: ; the cock and hen fit by turns, one call¬ 
ing to the other by a gentle cooing, whenever it 
wiflies to leave the nefi: in fearch of food. The 
Cock watches near his mate attentively, whilft 
file is fitting, and takes her place for two or three 
hours at a time, fometimes twice in a day and 
right, 
Their 
