278 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



oblique nostrils (overhung by a valve-like scale or operculum) and 

 a hard or horny terminal part with outhnes more or less convex, 

 especially the culmen, which is more or less arched, the middle por- 

 tion of the bill more or less constricted. Head relatively small, 

 completely feathered, except a bare orbital space of greater or less 

 extent. Anterior toes cleft to the base, or else with a shght mem- 

 brane between middle and outer toes only; tarsus covered laterally 

 and behind (sometimes in front also) with small hexagonal or roundish 

 scales, "^ usually scutellate in front, where sometimes feathered on 

 upper portion. Plumage pecuharly dense though easily detached 

 from the very tender skm, the feathers with a thickened, spongy, 

 loosely inserted rhachis; orbital region usually more or less naked. 

 Yomig gymnopa3dic and nidicolous, nourished for a time by a secre- 

 tion, later by half-digested seeds or grain, both regurgitated from the 

 well-developed crop of the parents. Eggs, 1-2, immaculate, usually 

 white, sometimes buff; nest a very simple structure, usually flat and 

 frail, composed of twigs, straws, or similar materials, placed in a tree, 

 upon stumps, rocks, or walls, clefts of cliffs, in buildings, or on the 

 groimd. 



Pigeons ^ are monogamous, but nevertheless are to a degree fickle 

 or inconstant m their affections, at least in the domesticated species, 

 and are by no means the peaceful birds they are popularly supposed 

 to be, fierce, bloody, and stubborn conflicts often occurring durmg 

 the breeding season. Both sexes take equal part in nest building, 

 incubation, and care of the young. The latter are hatched naked, 

 except for scattered bits of filamentous down, and are fed with the 

 moistened or partially digested seeds or grain from the parents' crop, 

 the young one inserting its bill into the parents' mouth, the regurgi- 

 tation of the food by the parent being accompanied by a violent or 

 spasmodic shaking of the body and wmgs. The food of pigeons 

 consists principally of grains, seeds, and fruits, and salt is seemingly 

 a necessity to them. In drinking, the bfll is immersed to the nostrils 

 and the water drawn in a continuous draft, in which they are, so far 

 as known, unique among birds. The voice of pigeons is, usually, a 

 soft coo, varied in strength and modulation according to the species. 

 In some it is extremely loud in proportion to the size of the bird, one 

 of the smaller American species (Claravis fretiosa) producing a sound 



a Tliese sometimes obsolete or indistinct. 



l> The names -pigeon and dove, applied to birds of this suborder, are synonymous or 

 interchangeable. The former is French (Italian picdone or pipione, LaAbx pipio); 

 the latter is from the Dutch duyve (Danish due, Icelandic dufa, German taube). The 

 The name dove is commonly applied to the smaller members of the group, though in 

 England the largest species (Columba palumbus) is called the Ring Dove; and aa 

 Professor Newton remarks (Dictionary of Birds, p. 162) "no sharp distinction can be 

 drawn between Pigeons and Doves, and in general literature the two words are used 

 almost indifferently, while no one species can be pointed out to which the word Dove, 

 taken alone, seems to be absolutely proper." 



