R O C 1 . B O T E .
C o lum t a l iv ia ; (Lvrvrb.j
1
imba liv
Dotonifcc
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, 3 sJ' Ls W Blmost unfvwsally conceded diet this snml! and elegant aperies o f Pigeon is the origin of tire
numerous domestic varieties which tenant our dovecotes and pigeonloft», We are aware that the. Stock Dove
Lain.) :h<is keen reputed*^ ’ hi? jtiXrâtU? stock front whence they have sprung* but i! »
habit* and manners o f the two species into cuiMiidciittion, We cannot f e iito perorsve on which side the
probability lies, the Colurnba ornm being; altogether woodland in it; habits and st rictly migratory while the
paeseot species, is an inhabitant o f precipitous rooks, fcoarera, and steeple, never perchiug on "trees and
itmereBy remaining with us tinotigfcout tire ;.■ ■■■ Tri II,;. „ 0 OU,y nls„ .AI, that the white romp which
piiiftngimhei, the ’.icclt Dove is retained by il, dereinidaofci In capti h y . ... if it disappearfor u few geueratium
m obedience to the gn o f the pigeon-fancier, whose skill cini.s',M, in prolliicltig monslrositiw in nature, it
mnliirinly returns, or at least snows so strong » .tendency so to do that still further crosses are required to
0ts*e»t the white feathers frind. predominating.. As regards the difference ia size mid form which our
dunes tic Pigeons exhibit, we have only to oliscric that they show the same'results of the mihicnee o f man
epoii the animals subject to his controul as 4 , the dog, the sheep, and the ox. One thing is certain, ...
‘experience, has well taught us, that domestication has a decided tendency to produce both an increase o f size
«wj a variation o f form add, colours.
The bjdiitat o f the Hock Dove appears to be extended 'brouglwut Europe aud the greater portion o f Africa,
ptorticularly its northern regions, everywhere frequenting the rocks which border the.'"
precipice*, and ruined buildings adjacent to the coa
•liland o f Teneriflfe it abounds in great multitudes, and in our own islands it is nowhere more^iïcüiHÏiij
îa tfee Orkney» and along the coasts o f Wales ; it is, how.
dké sea afford it. a congenial asylum.
ij the «bores o f the Mediterranean - and in the
ur it n<
erôjr, also to be met with where'
.Like the rest o f its genus., it lays two white eggs, on the shelves o f t
«brteeia the season.
i is said, to breed twice or
I*8 consists o f grab» «ml isjions seeds, to which, according to Montagu, are added the.
f various land shells, particularly that o f tlife fteiue w s , 'a ,
Ffae colouring-, which is the same in both male «¡ad female, is as follows
The bead, face, and throat deep blueisb grey 5 neck and chest beatitifcd green ¡me! poi-pk\ <
Nrty lig h t ; upper and under surface delicate blucisb grey , with the exception o f the rump, ivhic
m distinct bars o f black pass across the wings* ; quills and tail dark grcv, the latter tipped with
tow»; legs and ¡rules red.
The iiguri; represents the bird o f the natorai size.