PIGEONS. 83 



broad and distinct bars across the closed wings ; the lower part 

 of the back is white ; the rump and tail coverts, bluish-grey ; the 

 tail, deep-grey, with a broad black bar at the end ; the legs and 

 feet are purplish-red; the wings, when closed, reach within 

 half an inch of the end of the tail. 



ORIGEN OF FANCY PIGEONS AND THE COMMON 

 HOUSE DOVE. 



It is from the wild rock pigeon, (C. livia,) that all those 

 numerous varieties, or, as they are frequently termed, " races," 

 of the common inhabitants of the dove cot have descended, 

 which are so highly prized, and fostered with such care and 

 attention by the fancier, or amateur breeder; for, however 

 diversified their forms, colors, or peculiarity of habit may be, 

 they are all considered as having originated from a few acci- 

 dental varieties of the common house pigeon, and not from any 

 cross of that bird with other species, no signs nor marks 

 whatever of such being apparent in any variety known to us. 

 In fact, the greater part of them owe their existence to the 

 interference and art of man ; for, by separating from the wild 

 rock pigeon, such accidental varieties as have occasionally 

 occurred, by subjecting them to captivity and familiarisation, 

 and by assorting and pairing them together, as fancy or 

 caprice suggested, he has, at intervals, generated all the 

 various races, and peculiar casts, which, it is well known, 

 when once produced, may be perpetuated for an indefinite 

 period, by being kept separate from, and unmixed with, others ; 

 or, in other words, what is commonly termed breeding 

 " in-and-in." 



Indeed, the fact, that all the varieties, however much they 

 may differ in color, size, or other particulars, if permitted, 

 breed freely and indiscriminately with each other, and produce 

 a progeny equally prolific, is another and a convincing proof 

 of their common and self-same origin ; for it is one of those 

 universal laws of nature, which, if once set aside or not 



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