ROCK DOVE. 283 



supplied with mucus. Below the crop, the oesophagus con- 

 tracts to a diameter of four-twelfths, /. The proventriculus, g, 

 which is not much enlarged, is studded for the length of three 

 quarters of an inch with oblong glandules. The stomach, 

 ^, ^,y, ^, ^, is somewhat rhomboidal, an inch and a half in its 

 transverse diameter ; the lateral muscles, ^, j^ extremely thick, 

 the left being five twelfths of an inch ; the lower muscle, ^, 

 prominent. The duodenum, m, w, o, forms a curve three inches 

 in length, inclosing, as usual, the pancreas ; on the right side, 

 under the liver, it curves backwards, passes behind to the left, 

 then turns to the right, forming a second fold ; it is then con- 

 voluted on the right side, passes behind the stomach, and pro- 

 ceeds along the middle of the sacrum. The entire length of 

 the intestine is four feet, its greatest diameter four twelfths, its 

 least two and a half twelfths. The coeca. Fig. 7, c, 6?, which 

 arise at the distance of an inch and a half from the anus, are 

 cylindrical, five twelfths long, one twelfth in diameter. 



Not having access to a young brood of domestic pigeons, and 

 having neglected to note the manner of their feeding, I re- 

 quested my friend Mr. Weir to send me information on the 

 subject, which he has done in the following words : — " The 

 young pigeons, I observe, when they feed, thrust their bills 

 into the mouths of the old ones, and receive their food in that 

 manner." It is the same with the young Rock Doves, although 

 the mode of feeding of Pigeons has been somewhat differently 

 represented by authors. 



Another importation of Rock Doves from Shetland having 

 taken place since the above was written, I may be allowed 

 farther to state some particulars respecting the species which 

 they have enabled me to observe, and to present the few facts 

 relative to their history supplied by the gentleman, J. Smith, 

 Esq., Uyea Sound, who transmitted them to Dr. Aitkin. His 

 statement, w^hich is interesting as confirmative of that of Mr. 

 Barclay and my own, is as follows : 



" The specimens sent are from Fetlar, where these birds 

 abound. They are said to hatch at all seasons of the year, ex- 

 cept the month of March, and always to produce at each time 



