During the time of breeding, both parents assist in 

 feeding their young. For this purpose the coats of the 

 crop put on a glandular appearance, and for the first 8 or 

 9 days secrete a substance much resembling the curd of 

 milk : this is at first thrown up pure, and .supplied to the 

 young in that state : it is then mixed with the common 

 food in less proportion until its secretion ceases. 



It is also curious that the testes of male birds in general 

 become almost obliterated after the season for incubation, 

 and remain so until spring, when they again become turgid. 



4. LIVIA. ROCK PIGEON. 



C. cinereo-ccerulescens, fascia alarum duplici nigrd, 

 dorso inferiors albo, pectore vinaceo, apice caudce 

 nigricanle. Shaw. 



" The head, the upper part of the back, the wing- 

 coverts, the breast and the belly, are grey striped 

 with bluish; the wing-coverts being darkest; the 

 lower part of the back is white ; the neck is of a 

 fine green, with rich reflections ; the greater feathers 

 of the wing are dusky; the secondaries and the greater 

 coverts are grey, with blue markings ; they are ter- 

 minated with black, and form on each side two 

 transverse bands of that colour; the tail is similar 

 to the body ; the whole of its feathers are dusky, 

 and the outer one on each side has its exterior web 

 while ; the beak is of a pale red ; the feet are red, 

 and the claws black." (Shaw.) 



