This is the case also with doves, which look very disconsolate without a mate, to whom they are constantly cooing. They are pretty, gentle, quiet birds, and easily tamed. The stock dove, ring dove, turtle dove, and collared turtle, are all kept in confinement, but they should all have a great deal of air. If kept in a wicker cage, it should be carried indoors at night (for, being natives of hot countries, they do not bear cold well), and taken out of doors early in the morning. The German peasants keep doves constantly in their cottages, from a fancy that they cure colds and rheumatism by taking the complaints themselves; and I believe it is true that doves are subject to the diseases which people shut up in the same room with them have, such as small-pox, swollen legs, and tumours in the feet; but this is probably due to the close unwholesome condition and bad air of the room, which affects birds and human beings alike. They are best kept in a conservatory or aviary, unless they are tame enough to fly in and out of the house, and return to their cages at night or when they want food, in which case they may be allowed their liberty. They must have plenty of fine dry gravel and conveniences for bathing, and their food should be barley, wheat, pease, vetches, hemp, and canary seed.

They like variety in it, and are fond of bread dry or soaked, the seeds of pines and firs, and linseed and myrtle berries. They ought to have bay salt mixed with old mortar or gravel: the salt is good for their throats, which often become diseased. Doves generally have two broods in the year, two young ones at a time, which they feed from their crops. I have been told that they are often unnatural enough to neglect this duty; but I do not think this is generally the case. The young are so dependent upon their parents, that they could hardly be reared by hand. They are not very interesting birds, but have great beauty of plumage, and no disagreeable characteristics to detract from their merits as domestic pets.

Doves.