for departure arrives, the instinct which urges it to travel is so strong, that it becomes much agitated, particularly in the night by moonlight, and in some cases it has been known to fall ill and die. The Blackcap feeds partly on insects, and partly on fruit and grain; and in confinement it may be fed on the German paste, with a little bruised hempseed occasionally, varied by ants' eggs and insects of various kinds. The bird is very fond of elderberries, which may be dried for winter use, soaking them in water before they are given to the bird. It should be well supplied with water, both for washing and drinking. These birds are rather tender and easily affected by cold, but their song is very sweet, and bears considerable resemblance to that of the nightingale. They are also very affectionate little birds, and may be easily taught to caress those who feed them.

The FAUVETTE bears considerable resemblance to the blackcap, both in its habits and in its song. It is, however, more delicate, and is easily killed by cold. It is a great eater, and requires abundance of animal food as well as fruit and seeds. It must not, however, have too much paste or bread given to it, as over-feeding occasions the feathers to fall off, and then the poor little creature dies from cold.

CHAPTER XI.

DOVES AND PIGEONS.

Or these birds, doves are most properly to be called domestic pets, as they are always kept in cages; while pigeons are left in a state of halfliberty, only having a sleeping habitation provided for them, and being fed at regular times. Of the doves kept in cages the TURTLE DOVE is generally the favourite, not from any particular attractions in itself (for though it is a pretty little graceful bird, it is incapable of being taught any accomplishment, and its only attempt at singing is a melancholy cooing), but from its reported attachment to its mate, which is said to be so great that it would pine itself to death if its mate died before it. Unfortunately, however, this is one of those popular fallacies which, though they are generally believed, have no foundation in truth.

The turtle dove is naturally a very shy bird, but when it once becomes attached, it is extremely affec

tionate, and will caress, with its beak, those who attend to it. In a wild state the seeds of the Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) are said to be its principal food, but in confinement it will eat peas, vetches, millet, or corn of any kind. Like all other birds it is very fond of hemp seed, but it should only be allowed to take it in small quantities. The turtle dove is very sensitive to cold, and should be kept in a moderately warm room. The German peasants have a superstitious belief respecting these birds, and fancy that the people who keep them are never troubled with rheumatism; but this fancy does not hold good in other countries.

The COLLARED TURTLE DOVE is so called from the back of the neck being marked with a black crescent, the points of which nearly meet under the throat. The upper part of the body is of a reddish white; the legs are red, and the iris of the eye is of a golden yellow. This bird, being a native of India and China, is very tender, and requires to be kept in a warm room during the winter. The collared turtle is an engaging little bird which easily becomes affectionate to those who take care of it; and its cooing is like a faint laugh. The young birds are fed entirely by their parents, who disgorge their food for that purpose; and it is said to be a curious sight to watch their mode of feeding. "The old

bird," says the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, "opening its beak to the full extent, the young plunges its own almost, as it were, down the throat of its parent, whose efforts to regurgitate the required food into the mouth of its offspring are distinctly visible. But what particularly takes my attention is, the persevering and often fruitless endeavour made by the young to induce the parent to open its mouth for this purpose. This is especially the case when the young are now nearly fully fledged, and partially able to feed themselves; and when, perhaps, the usual secretions of the parent's crop are beginning to fail. Under such circumstances, they will often chase the old birds round the cage, and again and again present themselves before their face, as often as they turn away from their solicitations: at the same time they keep up a continual flapping with their wings, utter a plaintive whining note, and peck at the sides of their parents' bill, trying every stratagem to make them yield to their entreaties. The old birds, however, as if conscious that there was no supply, or that it was no longer needed, obstinately refuse to pay any regard to the demands made upon them; or they are not prevailed upon till after a long time, and till wearied, as it were, with the perpetual teasings of their offspring. The difficulty experienced by this last in effecting its object, is

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greater as it advances to the age at which it is capable of taking care of itself. Probably the secretion in the parent's crop is dependent upon a certain degree of excitement caused by maternal affection; and, after a time, when this excitement wears off, by reason of the increasing age of the young bird, it is with difficulty elaborated. At length it ceases altogether; yet the habit of the young coming to its parent to be fed is kept up for a while, in like manner as we see nearly fullgrown kittens and puppies still occasionally pulling at their mother's teats after they are dry. scene above described may, at any time, be witnessed by throwing down a little hemp seed into the cage where the parents and young birds are, when, as soon as ever the former begin to feed, the latter will be immediately at them importuning for a share."

The

The RING-DOVE is a very pretty bird, and it is of a much hardier constitution than the turtle-dove. In a state of nature, it has been observed to resort principally to the turnip-fields for its subsistence; not, however, feeding on the tuberous root of the turnip, but on the leaves, which, Mr. Waterton tells us, it eats so voraciously, that towards evening its form becomes considerably changed. "Having fed on the turnip-tops during the course of the day,