THE COLUJIBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. 121 



toxkV. We doubt much whether any plans of 

 treatment or inter-breeding would ever produce 

 a carrier or horseman, so singularly specific 

 are they in their characters, and of this we are 

 sure, that if the breed be once extinct, no arts 

 will ever consummate its renewal. Other 

 varieties are far more easily accounted for, — 

 but this, of ancient lineage, descended from a 

 remote line of oriental ancestry, has continued 

 in distinctness to the present day. True, it 

 has been interbred with baser strains by 

 fanciers ; but more or less pure, its distinctive 

 characters yet survive, often in high perfection. 

 We may say the same, with some reservation, 

 respecting the barb, — a black pigeon with an 

 occipital crest and a naked circle of scarlet 

 skin round the eyes. 



But before we attempt to give a sketch, 

 (and a sketch only, for we are not of the 

 fancy,) of the principal varieties of the domestic 

 pigeon, it may be as well to turn our atten- 

 tion to their assumed origin, the rock pigeon, 

 and give a brief history of its general habits 

 and economy. 



The Kock Pigeon {Columha livid). — Le 

 Biset and Le Rocheraye of the French writers, 

 Piccione de Rocca, etc, of the Italians, Coloni' 



