1 1 9 On the domestic Pigeons of Spalnt 



sess the properties of a pure resin : but when a stream of 

 oxyrnuriatic acid gas was made to pass through the solution, 

 a tough elastic substance was thrown down, which became 

 brittle when dried, and was soluble in boiling alcohol, but 

 separated again as the solution cooled : its properties, there- 

 fore, somewhat approached to those of the original insoluble 

 part. 



XX. Natural History of the domestic Pigeons of Spain, 

 particularly in the Province of Valentin. By Don An- 

 tonio Joseph Cavanilles*. 



.Oowever easy it is to distinguish the <reneric character" 

 of pigeons, it is very difficult to discover the distinguishing 

 marks of each class. This arises from the frequent crossing 

 of the breeds, particularly among domestic pigeons, which 

 has almost entirely destroyed their primitive forms. From 

 this arise the singular mistakes of many naturalists, of which 

 I shall take no further notice. The following are such ob- 

 servations as I have been able to collect, particularly in the 

 province of Valentia, during a long series of years. I begin 

 by my division of the races of domestic pigeons. 



Generic Chaj-acters. 



A straight conical beak ; at the bottom of the upper part 

 two small protuberances ; the point a little bent. The nos- 

 trils oblong, half covered with skin, and situated obliquely 

 on the side of the axis of the beak. The tongue entire. At 

 each foot four toes without any membrane, divided almost 

 to the bottom ; three before, and the fourth behind. 



Observation. 



Many naturalists add to the generic characters of pigeons 

 that of having the feet furnished with feathersj but, as 



* From Z' no :i- a;;. 180,3; edited by Son- 



nini. 



hardly 



