THE COLUJIBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. 123 



species in the bill being black,* instead of 

 pale red, in the utter want of white in the 

 quills ; the want of white in the tail-feathers ; 

 and in the legs being brownf instead of 

 black. As these differences are permanent, 

 they might justify a specific name being 

 applied to the Dukhun pigeon." 



Now we hesitate not to say that this bird 

 was not the Stock-dove (0. Mnas) nor any 

 variety of it, but the Rock-dove (C Livia) or 

 a closely allied species (if not mere variety), 

 and this might be presumed from the fact 

 alone of its inhabiting old dilapidated build- 

 ings. Selby speaking of the Rock-dove says, 

 "Although this species seems to have fallen 

 frequently under the notice of our orni- 

 thologists (as may be gathered from their 

 descriptions and the localities they have given 

 to it,) yet it has always been attended by the 

 original supposition of this and the preceding 

 species (stock-dove) being identical. In form 

 and size they very nearly agree, the rock-dove 

 being, perhaps, rather more slender. The 

 predominant shades of each are also much 



* Bill blackish brown. Selby, art. Rock-dove, 

 t Legs pale purplish red. Selby, art. Fi.ock-dove. Bright 

 cochineal red in the stock-dove. — Idem. 



