1895, Henry Kingsley, The Hillyars and the Burtons: A Story of Two Families[1], pages 59-60:
Seven honest good fellows were respectfully afraid of one rogue ; and the rogue was perfectly aware of the fact, and treated them accordingly ; much as a hawk would treat a coteful of pigeons, if he found it convenient to pass the night among them.
1915, Seven Seas Magazine[2], volumes 1-3, page 14:
The Big Chief in Washington had intervened and had set free a whole coteful of peace doves along the Mexico border, big flocks of them settling on the American gunboats in the southern waters.
1944, A. F. Parry, H.M.A.S. Yarra, the Story of a Gallant Ship[3], page 121:
On board we found two animals, a goat and a cat, left to perish by the Wops, as were a coteful of pigeons.
[…] there were old gaunt trees, and some five-barred gates, and crooked chimneys, and a coteful of doves, that gave the place a certain rural charm, even in mid-winter.
1985, Joseph Raff, Fielding's Economy Europe, 1985[5], page 473:
Coteful of doves at the entrance; Op-art rampant; about the same price scale as Piper’s; discount for females; a somewhat dressier crowd.
2000, Wilder Perkins, Hoare and the Headless Captains[6], page 74:
So, when she asked me to bring over that lad Jamie an’ his coteful of pigeons, I thought nowt of it but took him aboard.
