The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-08-13
THE DOVE.


The dove, or pigeon, was the first
bird to he domesticated: dove-cotes arc
alluded to, with their ':windows" OF
latticed openings, in the book of Isaiah
The dove is mentioned more than fifty
times in the Scripture; and, while dis
tinguishing yonah or pigeon from ton
or turtle-dove, the Jews were perfectly
aware of their natural affinity, and
spoke Of them together. They were
the only birds admitted for sacrifice by
the law of Moses, and both had been
so used by Abraham The dove is
first mentioned in the history of y oah' s
flood
When | look back at the period OF
my boyhood, find that my happiest
hours were those spent among my pets
and freely confess that in my attach,
ments Jared best with the pigeons
They were least aggressive. required
least attention, and by their gentleness
and contentedness, best repaid the eff
forts made for their benefit Could |
retrace my steps in life to any particll-
lar period, it would be to that when, us
a lonely boy, | sat in my loft, surround
ed by the feathered beauties, which
fearlessly ate from my hand or rplumcd
their feathers on my knee.
| well remember the boys, the friends
of my youth, whose hearts were almost
bursting for the want of something to
love, who came to my lofts and sat
hour after hour, in silent contemplation
of Whist they saw there. Nature neces-
states an attachment to something;
therefore, if 4 boy or girl takes fancy
to pet of any description, and has the
slightest opportunity to indulge the
fancy, in the name of all that is good
let them do so.
| still remember my beautiful speci-
men of a fln-tail that coocd in plain
tive and tender manner as it went round
and round in y circle, initiating its neck
and moving its head as though picking
up food. The bird was white. with q
black head and tail. the latter being
its chief beauty. The fan was double
and the tail had thirty feathers in it.
which stood erect and possessed sing.
ular trembling motion peculiar to this
bird.
Then there was my tumbler. SO
named because, when one attempts to
alight, it tumbles over and over in the
air like 4 rubber ball. Another Of my
birds was named the Jacobin, which
IA a crest of pretty feathers, forming
a little hood. This bird is generally
small. but of graceful formand its hood
breast and back are generally Of q red.
dish-brown, although some rare varic.
ties are pure white.
The Capulet is remarkable and
beautiful pigeon, with an eye infinitely
winter than pearl. 1t is the highest,
flying and the longest on the wing OF
all the pigeon tribe, and mostly chooses
midday for its flights.
| once owned q Turkish pigeon,
which is Of the same race rs the carrier
but Il great deal larger, while its bill
is differentiated at the base, and naked
red skin surrounds the eyes.
1t has been said that the dove, or
pigeon, does not care particularly for
its brood. This is untrue \ few
years since two pigeons had built their
nest in the top story of Il dovc-cotc,
and had hatched their Young, which
came out of the eggs about the middle
of March. On March 10th very Sc
we're storm of snow and snow-drilt set
in. The door of the dove-cote looked
to the northwest. whence the storm
was coming; 50 that the SNOW blew
right into the portal where the Young
pigeons were lying, only Il day or two
old. The storm WAS severe. and the
young brood would no doubt have per-
ished but for the happy cNpedlent that
the father Of the young pigeons adopt
| cd. He stood in the doorway, with
| his tail spread out to the storm and
the wings in tluttering position, evi-
IDENTIFY with the intention of stopping
the draught, SO as to shelter his naked
offspring, and there he stood for hours
with the snow thick upon his back and
tail, breaking the intensity of the cold.
But for this the Young must have
died.
1t is said the pigeon is never eaten
by the Russians. who hold it a sin to
kill an animal in whose form the Holy
Ghost is said to have manifested him
self Pigeons are bought, therefore,
only rs pets. to he fed and SchooIed hv
their masters Georgc BnncroH GriI-
fM IN Uome JouynuL