Dove. The first menton of this bird occurs in Genesis 8.

The dove's rapidity of flight is alluded to in Psalms 55:6,

the beauty of its plumage in Psalms 68:13,

its dwelling in the rocks and valleys in Jeremiah 48:28 and Ezekiel 7:16,

its mournful voice in Isaiah 38:14; Isaiah 59:11; Nahum 2:7,

its harmlessness in Matthew 10:16,

its simplicity in Hosea 7:11, and

its amativeness in Song of Solomon 1:15; Song of Solomon 2:14.

Doves are kept in a domesticated state in many parts of the East. In Persia, pigeon-houses are erected at a distance from the dwellings, for the purpose of collecting the dung as manure. There is probably an allusion to such a custom in Isaiah 60:8.