Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1905 — PIGEON COURTSHIP. [ARTICLE]

PIGEON COURTSHIP.

It Sometimes Leads to Battles That r-r — Reiult ln Death. ? ... On a south Jersey farm, which was the home of a thousand pigeons and which was conducted by a woman who had formerly been a bookkeeper in Philadelphia, was found one particular fly and coop which was the abiding place of youn® doves that bad reached the mating season. Purposely these young birds were associated together so that they might select their life companions. The interior of the wails of the coop were filled with boxes, and those pigeons which had' mated would select one of these boxes for their home and nest. This period of courtship is one filled with excitement for the birds. Two young pigeon cocks, having selected the same hen for a mate, have been known to fight to the death in their rivalry. The method of combat is peculiar. The beak and wings alone are used, the combatants catching each other with their beaks by the skin of the head and beating each other with their strong wings. Having once chosen his mate, the dove, with an occasional exception, remains constant to her through life. The occasional instances of infidelity cause discord In the coop, for when one pigeon tires of his mate and seeks another he meets a vigorous protest from the companion of the bird which he covets. When they have agreed to spend their lives together Mr. and Mrs. Dove select a box and the laying begins. The parent birds may then be less than eight months old.—Era Magazine.