216 GYRATORES. 



ORDER IV. GYRATORES. 



(Circling Birds.) 



While some naturalists, following Linnaeus, have 

 considered the great group of birds well known 

 under the names of Pigeons and Doves, as consti- 

 tuting a Family of the extensive Passerine Order, 

 and others, with the illustrious Cuvier, have placed 

 them in that of the Gallinaceous or Poultry-like 

 birds, others, of equally high consideration, prefer 

 to elevate them to the rank of an Order of them- 

 selves. Like the Passeres in general, the Pigeons 

 associate in pairs at the season of courtship, the 

 male and female working conjointly to form the 

 nest, taking their turns in the wearying labours of 

 incubation, and participating in the care of the 

 young ; the latter, also, are hatched blind and 

 naked, are fed in the nest until they are fledged, 

 and are sustained by the parents even some time 

 after they have quitted it, having no power to feed 

 themselves. 



On the other hand, they differ from the Pas- 

 seres in their mode of drinking, and of feeding 

 their young, in the character of their plumage, 

 in the singular tenderness of their courtship, 

 and in the hollow and inward character of their 

 voice. 



With the Gallinaceous tribes they have also 

 many points in common. In the peculiarities of 

 their internal anatomy they are closely assimilated 



