THE PIGEONS. L7T4 
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 itin. 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 
