



88 



PIGEONS. 



own exertions for support, they can scarcely be called 

 " reclaimed," much less " domesticated." Man, indeed, has 

 only taken advantage of certain habits peculiar to the species, 

 and bv the substitution of an artificial for a real cavern, (their 

 natural habitation,) to which the pigeon house may be com- 

 pared, has brought it into a kind of voluntary subjection, 

 without violating, or at least greatly infringing upon its 

 natural condition, and has rendered it subservient to his 

 benefit and use. 



DESCRIPTION. 



IN its natural state, the bill of this bird is blackish-brown ; 

 uie nostril membrane red, sprinkled, as it were, with a white 

 powder; the irides, pale reddish-orange; the head and throat, 

 bluish-grey; the sides of the neck and upper part of the 

 breast are dark lavender-purple, glossed with shades of green 

 and purplish-rec 1 ; the lower part of the breast, abdomen, wing 

 coverts, as well as the upper mandible, bluish-grey, the greater 

 coverts and secondaries are barred with black, forming two 



