The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-20
A KNOWING PIGEON.
He Lived Twenty Years and Had
Some Funny Ways.

49,
L do not think many people know what .
clever bird a pigeon is, and how constant
In its affection. When a pigeon pairs IL is
for life. and the cock bird is most devoted
and attentive TO his mate. He builds the
nest. and If she does not like il she pulls IL
TO pieces. and he builds it again. Then
| when the time for setting comes, the cock
shares the burden of Matching the eggs.
OF the first pair Of pigeons I had. the cock
always sat in the day time and left his
wife free to enjoy the fresh air and sun
shine. Then when night came she took her
place upon the nest. When the eggs are
Matched, both birds take an equal share in
feeding their young; it is a very busy
| time, for the young birds are very vora-
cious. Pigeons, unlike most birds. do not
| open their bills for their parents TO put the
| food in, but they put their bills into the old
BIRDS bills, and then the old bird fills the
| young crop from the contents OF its own
crop.
L once had a pigeon which lived TO DO
twenty years old, and l do not know how
many more years he might have lived had
he not met with an accident. He was .
very funny bird, and was master or all the
pigeons; he had a great many wives. as his
mates seemed always TO come 10 some I'M
fortunate end; he never mourned long for
their loss, but used TO set of almost at
once to a neighboring farm, where a great
number of pigeons were kept, and remain
there until he had paired, and then he
would return home with his new wife, do
not think he was ever away longer than
three days. 1t was a most curious thing
that IL did not matter how many pigeons
We mad, he would never choose one of them
for his mate. To each of his wives In turn
he seemed most devoted. sitting beside her
for hours in the sun, preening his feathers
and kissing her.
L once had a pet pigeon which was a mar
vel of tameness. The way / came TO have
ii was through a quarrel OF the parent
birds, who i'm their struggles with each
other kicked their little one out Of the nest.
1t fell a distance of about six feet on to
some stones. ana as it was only a day or
two old and was not in the least nedged
IL was a wonder ii was not killed. My old
nurse founl IL nearly dead. as IL was chilled
by lying ON the cold stones, and was also
me-. and We warmed il by the fire. and az
IL slowly began 10 recover, We determined
ncuit undermining, as the little creature
was so young, and its bcak so tender that
you could not force II open without hurt
pigeons If taken from the nest when just
Matched, seems to be 10 let them feed out
FEED 1 my little pet in n this ms" wa Say until q he wa 80
able TO eat by himself. He grew into q
most amusing. quaint bird, and he had all
able TO fly or even walk without limpings
as both his leg and his wing had been In
1UTGQ IN MS IdH. lie ndQ a DtnCn IN the
kitchen. where he always used TO sleep at
night or rest in the daytime If he felt in
clined. He never allowed anything 10 To
put down on his bench. and II by chance
anything was put there he would show his
displeasure by marching up and down with
his feathers all rcughed up. and cooling very
loudly until the thing was removed.
When the weather was warm. Birdie. az
my pigeon was called, used TO live chiefly
in our large. old-fashioned garden. and
when / used TO call him, as I often did. he
used TO come as fast as his little legs could
carry him. Sometimes he used 20 come
and look for me. and IL was the funniest
thing 10 see him looking first in one room
and then In the other. with his head on
one side and the wisest look in his eye.
until he spied me. and then he would march
up and jump on my foot and begin 10 preen
his feathers. II was my custom to kiso
Birdie and talk TO him N / went into the
kitchen when he was there. and II by any
chance l forgot TO notice him he used 10
get very angry and walk up and down his
bench, bowling his head and cooling in q
very loud voice, and he would never be
quiet until i went back and kissed him.,
and then he would seem quite contented
and settle himself on his one little red leg
and tuck the other UP comfortably among
his feathers. and pout himself out In the
funniest way. Birdie was extremely jeal-
Gus. and he never could bear me 10 pet any
other animal but himself. / remember one
afternoon Birdie was asleep on his bench.
with his head tucked under his wing. when
| brought another pet into the kitchen and
sat down and began TO kiss IL. l was sud-
denly reused by hearing a great noise going
on. and. looking down. | saw Birdie IN q
perfect fury standing at my foot with every
leather on end. I could not think at first
what could be the matter with him, but
guessing IL must be jealousy. l put the
other animal down and picked him up and
Immediately he became sweet-tempered and
ceased storming. 1 had Birdie for two
years and then a strange cat found It's way
into our garden and killed him, leaving
nothing but his two dear little red feet al
a proof OF his sad fate.