PIGEONS. 315 



are able to run about, and to procure for themselves their own 

 food. 



The principal distinctive character of the Columbas is furnished 

 by the structure of the bill. The upper mandible consists of a 

 horny apical portion, which is often of considerable length and 

 strength, but its base is formed by a convex cartilaginous plate, 

 in the anterior portion of which the nostrils are situated. The 

 skin covering the cartilaginous portion is of a soft texture, very 

 different from the rest of the bill. It is sometimes smooth, and 

 clothed with a sort of scurf, but in other cases it is warty, or even 

 developed into a fleshy wattle. This is especially the case in some 

 domesticated varieties of the pigeon. The Columbas are pro- 

 vided with short tarsi and moderately long toes, all scutellated. 

 The toes are four in number, — three in front and one behind. 

 The anterior toes are not united by a membrane at the base. 

 The hinder toe is placed on the same plane with those in front, 

 and the whole sole of the foot is formed of soft papi Hated pads, 

 which are usually a good deal wider than the scutellated upper 

 portion of the toes. The wings, which are generally long and 

 pointed, contain ten primary quills, and the tail usually consists 

 of twelve feathers, although in some cases there are sixteen. 

 Another important character distinguishing these birds, as com- 

 pared with the Gallina:, is that their feathers are destitute of the 

 plumules, or accessory plumes, which are greatly developed in 

 Gallinaceous birds. The form of the wing in pigeons is sufficient 

 to indicate that they are capable of powerful flight, and many of 

 them are remarkable for the speed with which they traverse the 

 air, especially when engaged in their migrations. Most of them 

 are arboreal, and nestle in the holes of trees ; others frequent 

 rocks ; but all perch with great facility , nevertheless, they gene- 

 rally seek their food upon the ground, and walk or run without 

 difficulty. They are also remarkable for their mode of drinking, 

 in which they differ from all other birds. The general practice 

 of birds in drinking is to take up a small portion of water in the 

 bill, and then by raising the head allow it to run down into the 

 throat. The pigeons, on the contrary, dip their bills into the 

 water and hold them there till they have quenched their thirst. 

 These birds are inhabitants of the warmer and temperate regions 

 of the earth, but they are found in most abundance in hot cli- 

 mates, where, also, their plumage attains a brilliancy of which 

 that of our native species gives us but an imperfect idea. 



This extensive group has been divided by naturalists into five 



