23 



THE PIGEON 



The pigeons of our dovecots are descendants of the wild rock 

 dove [Columba livia) which is no longer found in the wild state in 

 England and Wales, although it still breeds on the north-west 

 coast of Scotland and the adjacent islands. Although many 



Fig. 307.- — The wing of a dove. — From Thomson. 



c, Carpals ; h., humerus ; mc, carpo-metacarpus ; p.f., primary feathers ; r., radius ; 



s.f., secondary feathers ; u., ulna. 



of the domestic forms, such as fantails and pouters, have diverged 

 greatly from the ancestral stock, the feral birds, which are those 

 usually dissected, closely resemble the wild type. 



EXTERNAL FEATURES 



The pigeon has a boat-shaped body which offers httle resistance 



to the air, and a coat of feathers, which affords a light and warm 



covering. A distinct head, neck, and trunk are present, but the 



tail is a mere stump which bears a fan of long feathers. The 



fore-limbs are wings and the legs have their skeleton modified 



to support the whole weight of the body. The feet are naked and 



covered with scales, which are horny and epidermal like those 



of a reptile, not hke those of a fish. There are four toes, which 



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