Page:Pigeons - their structure, varieties, habits, and management (IA b28107901).pdf/34

 "These haunts of bygone murderers, smugglers, and outlaws are now only tenanted by Rock Doves, the emblems of innocence. They may be seen perpetually flitting in and out, some parties going off to feed, others returning to rest; a few birds sitting about the entrance, pluming themselves in the sunshine, or quietly dozing upon a sheltered ledge of rock. Upon a near approach, the cooing of the old birds may be heard, together with the querulous peep-peeping of the young demanding food, and the occasional stir of wings; but upon any alarm being given, the voices are immediately silenced, the clang and whir of wings reverberate from the profundity of the cave, and out pours a long stream of downy bosoms and silver wings, which swiftly skim along the surface of the sea, and disappear round the next headland. In Iona alone (though but a small island), we have as many as nine or ten caves frequented by pigeons; and in nearly every island of the Hebrides, there is sure to be one cave called, par excellence, 'Ua' Caloman,' the Pigeon Cave.

"I believe this dove is only found upon the coast, though I am not aware what attraction the sea-shore has for it; certainly, with us, it exclusively inhabits the sea-caves, and never goes far inland. In the winter I have once or twice seen them sitting upon the rocks at low water, but I hardly think they were looking for food. They feed upon land snails—some small species which at certain times is found in considerable variety and yast abundance, spread over the low sandy pastures which skirt the sea. The stubbles, the newly-sown fields, and the stackyards, are their principal resorts for food, and their crops are invariably to be found well distended with grain, though in winter it is difficult to account for their getting such good supplies, after the stubbles are picked clean, and the stack-yards cleared. They must sometimes go great distances for their daily food; those which inhabit the small islands must, of course, always come to the mainland for the supply of grain—some a great distance. When a large flock is suddenly raised while feeding in a corn-field, after wheeling up in the air, it breaks up into smaller parties, which dart off in various directions for their homes; some across the seas, others to the nearer caves.

"They seem to be migratory, to a certain extent in quest of food, at seed-time and harvest, if, as is often the case, the island crops are a little earlier than those on the mainland; then our fields are covered with those petty plunderers, and at night the caves are filled with roosting birds, which remain about the island as long as food is very plentiful, and then decamp. I think, however, that individual birds are a good deal in the habit of frequenting the same localities, and roosting in the same cave, until driven off by some cause. I have watched marked birds doing so; especially last summer I was observing a large white male pigeon, which had evidently escaped from the cote: he took to himself a little wild mate, and reared a brood in one of the caves. I made a duty of destroymg his family, which was easily done, as they were marked birds; but he himself, though of such a conspicuous colour, always contrived to escape. He became very wary, from being pursued, and I remarked that he always frequented the same cave, till