124 



GENUS COLUMBA. AUCT. 



PIGEON. 



FROM the preceding division or sub-family of Ptili- 

 nopinae, we now enter upon that of the Columbinse, 

 embracing a vast variety of species, distributed 

 throughout every quarter of the globe, and of which 

 (as well as of the Columbidae collectively), our native 

 Pigeons may be taken as the typical representatives 

 This division, for the present, we retain under one 

 generic head, as it would be impossible, in a work 

 of this brief nature, to enter into the laborious in- 

 vestigation necessary to determine and point out 

 with precision the subordinate groups into which the 

 species may require to be divided. Taking, how- 

 ever, the Ring Pigeon,* the Wood Pigeon,| and the 

 Rock Pigeon, J as types of form, a great majority of 

 the species will be found to possess similar characters 

 and habits, and to arrange themselves with them ; 

 the remainder, which by gradual modification of 

 structure lead to other divisions of the family, and 

 support that circular succession of affinities, which 

 is shewn to pervade all nature, will then, when the 



* Columba Palumbus. + Columba JEnas. 



Columba livia. 



