PIGEONS. 219 



internal surface very irregular. In this organ it 

 is that the food is elaborated by the parents before 

 it is conveyed to the young ; for a milky fluid of 

 a greyish colour is secreted and poured into the 

 crop among the grain or seeds undergoing di- 

 gestion, and a quality of food suited to the nest- 

 ling is thus produced. The fluid coagulates with 

 acids and forms curd ; and the apparatus forms, 

 among the birds, the nearest approach to the 

 mammcs of the Mammalia." * 



The form of the Pigeons and their motions are 

 graceful and elegant: the head is small in pro- 

 portion, the body plump and rounded, the plu- 

 mage full, compact, and smooth. The prevailing 

 hues in the typical genus are various shades of 

 blue and grey, merging into purple on the one 

 hand, and into white on the other ; in the Oceanic 

 Pigeons green is the ordinary colour, varied 

 with brilliant yellow. Metallic reflections of great 

 beauty are common in the Family ; not generally 

 spread over the whole plumage, but confined to 

 particular parts, and more especially the region of 

 the neck. The expression of the countenance is 

 peculiarly meek and gentle, and the eye large, 

 liquid, and engaging. The voice, though fre- 

 quently loud, has a soft and mournful character ; 

 it is known by the term cooing. 



The geographical distribution of the Family is 

 very extensive, the form occurring almost every 

 where, except within the frigid zones. The spe- 

 cies also are very numerous ; and are most abun- 

 dant in the south-eastern regions of Asia, and the 

 great Oriental Archipelago. 



* Penny Cyclop. ; Art. COLUMBIA. 



