a DOMESTIC PIGEONS. 425 
liberty, except upon some parts of the coasts of England, Scotland, 
Norway, and certain islands of the Mediterranean. They willingly 
sacrifice their independence to live in -pigeon-houses. They are 
generally regarded as the founders of the numerous races of our 
Domestic Pigeons. : 
Domestic Pigeons, probably sprang from the Rock-doves, are 
of two kinds—the Colombier Pigeons and the Aviary Pigeons. 
The former enjoy almost complete liberty ; they traverse the country 
all day to seek for food, and 
sometimes even return to a wild vin 
state; the latter are quite tame, 
and the door of their habitation 
can be left open without danger ; 
they go 2 little distance, and 
always return to their domicile. 
If Domestic Pigeons cause some 
harm to our crops, they amply 
compensate for these devasta- 
tions by the services which they 
render to agriculture. Theyare 
equally valuable to the breeder 
and consumer: the former de- 
rives a certain profit from them, == 
and the latter an agreeable and Fig. 162.—Rock-pigeon. 
economical article of food. To 
give a sufficient idea of the resources which they supply to public 
alimentation, we have only to state that certain species lay as many 
as ten eggs a year. Further, they supply a manure which is very 
efficacious in improving some soils. Raising pigeons necessitates 
certain precautions which cannot be neglected without bad results : 
the greatest cleanliness is necessary in the pigeon-house or aviary; all 
turbulent individuals, which sow discord, and often injure the fecun- 
dity of females, must be excluded ; and the races must be separated 
as much as possible the one from the other, in order to avoid the 
production of sterile varieties. Amongst the domestic species the 
naturalist can study at leisure the manners of Pigeons, and form an 
exact idea of their natures and inclinations ; for he can observe them 
from their first steps, making their early timid endeavours to raise 
themselves in the air; afterwards noting at more mature age the 
approaches of the sexes, and their fidelity to each other through 
years. We will examine rapidly the principal races of Domestic 
Pigeons, 
=~ 
Pp * 
