254 COLUMBINiE. 



remain in the nest until able to fly, soon after which they are 

 left to shift for themselves ; whereas the young Rasores follow 

 their mother abroad immediately after birth, and are never fed 

 from her mouth, but pick up the substances wdiich she points 

 out to them. 



The Pigeons, like many other birds, are fond of basking in 

 the sun, and of rubbing themselves in the dust or sand, and 

 scattering it over them. Their cry is a querulous or plaintive 

 murmuring sound, more or less resembling the syllables coo^ 

 roo^ and popularly termed cooing. It is chiefly uttered by the 

 male during the breeding season. 



These birds are found in all the warm and temperate parts 

 of the globe, but are much more abundant, and exhibit the 

 most beautiful tints, in the former, often rivalling the Parrots 

 in the splendour of their plumage. Only four species occur in 

 Britain, three of which are resident, the fourth, the Ringed 

 Turtle-Dove, migratory, remaining in the south of England 

 during the summer months. They may be briefly character- 

 ized as follows : — 



GENUS I. COLUMBA. DOVE. 



Bill rather short, and slender ; upper mandible tumid and 

 scurfy at the base, horny, arcuato-declinate, convex above, com- 

 pressed, thin-edged, towards the end. Wings long, broad, rather 

 acute, the second and third quills longest. Tail of moderate 

 length, or rather long, straight, even or slightly rounded, of 

 twelve broad feathers. 



1. Columha Palumhus. Binged Dote ov Cushat. Blue, with 

 tw^o white spots on the neck, a white patch on the wings, the 

 breast vinaceous. 



2. Columha Lima. White-hacked or Rock Dove. Blue, w^ith 

 two black bars on the wing, the hind part of the back w^hite, 

 the breast pale blue. 



3. Columha (Enas. Blue-hacked Dote. Blue, with two black 

 bars on the wing, the back blue, the breast vinaceous. 



4. Columha Turtur. Turtle Dote. Brownish above, with 

 two black spots, of which the feathers are tipped with white, 

 on the neck. 



