THE PIGEONS. 171 



THE PIGEONS. 



Pigeons form a family of birds which are found all over 

 the world, and, like Parrots, are very distinct from all 

 others, so that they are given an order to themselves. 

 Their characteristics are easily seen in the common tame 

 Pigeon — ^the weak bill, soft, and swollen over the nostrils, 

 the small head, powerful wings, and heavy body clothed 

 in close powdery plumage. The feet are also very 

 noticeable, with three toes before and one smaller one 

 behind, a single row of scales down the front of the 

 shank, and none at all at the back, which is covered 

 with soft skin. Most Pigeons have red or purple feet, 

 a few yellow ones. 



Pigeons build very slovenly nests of twigs or dry 

 grass, generally on the bough of a tree, but sometimes, like 

 the tame Pigeon, in holes. They never lay more than 

 two eggs, and the young from these are usually cock 

 and hen. The eggs are always white or — very rarely — 

 faintly tinted, and never show any spots. 



The young are hatched blind and nearly naked, and 

 are very ugly helpless little things, with swollen soft 

 beaks. They do not gape for food like most young birds, 

 but put their bills into that of the old one, which there- 

 upon throws up the food from its crop, and lets them 

 suck it hi. The proverbial " Pigeons' milk " really does 

 exist as a matter of fact, for during the first few days 

 of their lives the young Pigeons are fed on a secretion 

 from the crop of the old birds, which much resembles 

 milk in appearance and chemical composition. Later 

 this is mixed with softened grain, until at length the old 



