THE WOOD PIGEON OR KING DOVE. 327 



varieties of Pigeons to be found in almost all civilized 

 countries -were originally derived. Two hundred years ago 

 the taste for keeping different sorts of Pigeons was as 

 strong as it is in the present day, and the popular names 

 of Runts, Croppers, Shakers, Carriers, Jacobins, Turbits, 

 Barbaries, Tumblers, Horsemen, Spots, &c., modern though 

 they may sound, were then applied to the very same 

 varieties which are described under these names in recent 

 " Guides to the Poultry-yard." Many of these were of 

 foreign origin, and were known at a remote period in 

 various eastern countries, so that there can be no doubt 

 that the custom of keeping tame Pigeons is of very ancient 

 date. Naturalists are now pretty well agreed that all the 

 domestic varieties were derived originally from the Rock 

 Pigeon, resting their opinion mainly on the fact that this 

 bird and all the numerous sorts of tame Pigeons, whatever 

 other peculiarities they may have, agree in the character- 

 istic habit of perching and nesting in rocks or masonry, 

 whereas all other species of wild Pigeon found in the Old 

 World frequent trees. 



The Pigeons feed almost exclusively on vegetables, and 

 in some of their habits approach the gallinaceous birds, 

 with which accordingly they are classed. They are fur- 

 nished with long and powerful wings, by help of which 

 they can sustain a rapid and continuous flight. They seek 

 their food mostly on the ground, but do not scratch with 

 their feet, and are more given to bathe in water than to 

 flutter in a bath of dust, though in this habit also they not 

 unfrequently indulge. They are furnished moreover with 

 a large crop, in which the food supplied to their young is 

 partially macerated and reduced to a kind of pulp before 

 the latter are fed. This process is carried on more by the 

 agency of the receiver than of the giver, as the young birds, 

 instead of opening their mouths and allowing the food to 

 be dropped in, help themselves by inserting their bills into 

 the sides of the old bird's mouth. Their mode of drinking 



