510 Mr.E. Blyth on the Columbine. 



the common 'babuP tree, called here the 'keeker/ The natives 

 distinguish them by the name ' kummer kulla^ or ' kula/ the last 

 word being the name of a colour*. To Europeans they are also 

 known here as the * Hill Pigeon/ though whether they came 

 from the hills I cannot say." These Pigeons have hitherto been 

 observed only in the N.W. of India. 



3. CoLUMBA, L. (as restricted to the 'Rockier' group of 

 the major continent). Of this type the Prince of Canino recog- 

 nizes several nearly affined races, some of which differ more or 

 less in habit, as well as in the details of colouring. From certain 

 of these races all the numerous varieties of domestic Pigeons 

 have undoubtedly descended. 



The most unlike the rest is the fine Snow Pigeon of the 

 Himalaya (C leuconota, Vigors), which is confined to great ele- 

 vations near the snow, and assuredly does not appear to have 

 given origin to any domestic variety. 



The European Rock Pigeon (C. liviaj Latham), according to 

 the Prince of Canino, is found identically the same in Europe, 

 Egypt, the whole Barbary coast, and thence on to Senegal and 

 the Gold coast f. It is said to abound in the islands of Madeira 

 and Teneriffe. Northward, it is common in the Hebrides, and 

 in the Orkney, Shetland, and Paroe Isles; but in Scandinavia 

 is altogether confined to the island of Runneson, on the S.W. 

 coast of Norway, where it breeds in great numbers J. According 

 to Temminck, Japanese specimens do not differ in any respect. 

 It also abounds along the rocky shores of the Mediterranean 

 and iEgean (Italy, Sicily, Malta, Greece, &c.), and those of the 

 Euxine and Caspian, evincing everywhere a decided and remark- 

 able predilection for the crevices and especially the deep caverns 

 and recesses of sea-cliffs, even where the entrance is close over 

 the water at the height of the tide ; it penetrates further into 

 such recesses than any sea-bird is known to do. It also feeds 

 more on the tops of plants than the domestic races do habitually §, 

 and small Helices are commonly found in its craw. Though 

 rarely, if ever, inhabiting inland, unless somewhat domesticated, 



* In the chapter devoted to the rearing of pigeons in the ' Ayin Akbari,' 

 a number of breeds or races are enumerated, concluding with the * Komeree* 

 and the ' Gowlah' (Gladwin's translation). These names refer to the tame 

 Collared Turtle-dove and to the common ' Blue Pigeon' of the country (or 

 C intermedia) respectively. The latter, indeed, is stated to be " a wild 

 pigeon, of which, if a few are taken, they are speedily joined by a thousand 

 others of their kind." ' 



t Comptes Rendus, xxxix. p. 1107. 



j Nilsson, as quoted by Major Lloyd, * Scandinavian Adventures,' ii. 336. 



f The British Cushat is a great devourer of turnip-tops, as remarked by 

 Gilbert White. 



