GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 91 



by the sexes to each other, it was dedicated to the 

 Goddess of Love, and represented as her constant 

 and appropriate attendant. That the common pigeon 

 and domestic turtle of the present day, are the same 

 species which were thus cultivated and protected by 

 the ancients, is evidently and satisfactorily proved 

 by the descriptions of various authors, as well as the 

 numerous and faithful representations handed down 

 to us by the chisel of their sculptors. 



The voice or notes of the Columbidae are few, 

 in all the species much akin to each other, and 

 consist of guttural sounds or cooings frequently re- 

 peated ; in many they are plaintive and tender in 

 tone, in others hoarse and rather unpleasant. They 

 are principally used by the male when paying court 

 to his mate, and are mostly confined to the pairing 

 and breeding season. 



As a food for man, the flesh of the pigeons is 

 wholesome and very nutritious, generally rich in 

 flavour, juicy, and highly coloured. 



The general characters of the family may be thus 

 stated : Bill strait, the tip hard and horny, more or 

 less arched and deflected, the base covered with a 

 soft, naked, and bulging membrane, which partly 

 covers and protects the nostrils. Orbits of the eyes 

 more or less naked. Feet with four toes, nearly 

 divided, three anterior and one posterior, the latter 

 placed on the same base or plane with the front toes. 



We now commence our description of the family 

 with the 



