WOOD PIGEON. 63 



would require a series of generations to accustom 

 them to domesticity ; the few instances where suc- 

 cessful taming- has been accomplished, having- 

 been attended with great trouble and attention. 

 -Mr. Yarrell mentions, that they have bred in the 

 aviary at Knowlsley, and that a pair in the 

 Zoological Gardens constructed a nest, which was 

 unfortunately destroyed. 



The prevailing colour of this beautiful bird is 

 blueish-grey, being dark on the back and wing- 

 coverts, and forming there, as it were, a mantle. 

 The breast and under parts are brownish purple- 

 red, shading to paler on vent, and being nearly pure 

 white on the under tail-covers ; the breast and 

 sides of the neck exhibit rich green and purple 

 reflections, and the sides of the latter are marked 

 with a conspicuous patch of dull white, having 

 the webs of the feathers there unconnected. The 

 quills are blackish -grey, margined with white. 

 The shoulders white, and form a conspicuous mark 

 011 the wings during flight. The ample tail is 

 blackish-grey, with a dark band at the extremity. 

 The bill is orange, brownish-red above the nos- 

 trils, and at the base covered with a white scaly 

 substance. Feet and legs purplish-red. In the first 

 plumage the feathers are edged with pale yellow- 

 ish-brown, and even after this state has been 

 changed, the breast does not receive the rich re- 

 flected play of colours, nor the sides of the neck 

 the white patch, and all the other markings are 

 less distinct. 



