The new era., 1860-04-26
Written For the New Era
Animal Instincts.--The Pigeon

There has been some doubt "a to
which order Of birds the Pigeon family
should be attached, from the fact that
as we pass through the forests where
pigeons are accustomed TO frequent, in
most instances We fad them upon trees,
therefore naturally conclude that they
should be reckoned among the perchers.
4 gain as we visit those localities where
mast is abundant, and those fruits upon
which the Pigeon feeds, we find them
mostly on the ground scratching for
food, and from this fact they are ranged
among the Rasores or Scratchers.
They differ from Gallinaceous birds in
their habits Of pairing off, and they like
wise have their hind toe on level with
heir front ones, whereas in the Gallina-
ceous birds the hind toe is higher up
There is peculiar arrangement in the
membrane surrounding the gullet, in
which milky secretion is formed, made
ready for the use of the newly young.
There are interesting varieties. among
the Columbidae. One species is the
variety called the Tumblers.
In July Of '55, | had the pleasure of
visiting the Aviary of a gentleman who
lives in Little Valley. Among the
many objects Of interest which are al
ways to be seen there his flock of Doves
exhibited not the least. In letting out
from the Dove House the several varie-
ties of Doves into the op,n air, they
performed their gyrations, circling in
vorious directions and cutting up their
antics, each apparently trying to outdo
his neighbor. Among the most notice
able movements we're those Of the Tum-
blers. After rising two or three hun
dred feet and commencing to descend
you could easy distinguish the Tunblers
by their fraquent summersets. v hilst
one would kneel heels-oveihea back
wards, others would keel as naturally
forward
There is another variety called the
Pouter so named from the power it
has Of Initiating its crop until its head IS
entirely concealed, and losing its bal
ance it tumbles over.
The dove, which is a species Of pig
con, possesses a remarkable instinct in
finding its home after being carried hun
dreds of miles by land or by sea, with
out any apparenmeans OF knowing IN
what direction she has been taken. Al~
ter being let loose from her bondage,
she rises almost directly upwards, until
she satisfies herself as 10 her point of
compass. She then strikes a bee-line,
and makes a direct passage to her
home, at the rate Of from sixty to ono
hundred and fifty miles per hour. To
show the rapidly Of their flight, Caro-
lima rice undgested has been found in
crops Of the Passenger Pigeons killed
in New York, aud as digestion takes
place rapidly they must have flown
about four hundred miles in six hours.
To one who has observed the series
of hocks which have passed his door, at
certain seasons when pigeons migrate.
he has been convinced Of their rapid
movement and their far-reaching sight.
In Vermont ! have noticed their move
ments for hours together. Looking
southwark there could first be seen a
dark line extending from one mountain
ridge to another, for miles in length. In
a few minutes, the line comp ,sed Of null
objscts fits past your door
and soon melts away into the distance
norlhward.
Some who have been in circumstances
to calculate with some degree Of GER
tainty Of numbers, have estimated GER
tain multitudes to contain above two
hundred thousand millions others have
reckoned them by billions. Taking tho
first mentioned number as nearest the
truth, ano allowing a pint per day OF
grain or rice 10 eyery ten, and IT would
require not less than three hundred mil
lions Of bushels to feed them.
Their increase is SO rapid that a sin-
gle pair in four years, Matching as they
do about ten iimesa year. would pro-
duce not less than fourteen thousand.
The dove house pigeon possesses d
peculiarly with regard to their incuba-
ton. The frmale remains upon the nest
from 3 o'clock. P. NJ. until 8 next
morning The male then takes his turn
and relieves his mate until + NJ :, and
ia case either forgets 10 return-like
some of our merchant clerks from their
ball play-a; the expected hour, the
other pursues after aud hastsns his ,dila-
tory steps NV.