234 



ORDER III. RASORES. 



SCRAPERS, OR POULTRY TRIBE. 

 CHAPTER I. 



THE GALLINACEOUS BIRDS, or Poultry tribe. PIGEONS 

 Emblems of Peace and Love Held sacred among the 

 Russians One of the largest and most generally diffused 

 of all birds British doves Their habits and food Four 

 British species The Ring-dove The Stock-dove The 

 Rock-dove Effect of music on a Pigeon Description of 

 this bird in the Isles of the Hebrides The Turtle-dove 

 Countless multitudes of the Passenger-pigeon in America 

 M. Audubon's account of a vast flock of them Domestic 

 Pigeons and their varieties Instances of power of speed 

 in the Carrier-pigeon A flight of three thousand miles. 



WE have now arrived at tlie third order of birds, 

 (the RASORES, SCRAPERS, or GALLINACEOUS birds,) most 

 of winch obtain the principal part of their food 

 upon the ground. Among them are found those 

 most useful to man, especially in a domesticated 

 state. 



The PIGEONS, as they resemble, in some respects, 

 the perching birds, have been placed in immediate 

 succession to them. 



These birds have universally attracted the 

 attention of man ; and been chosen as emblems 

 of all that is gentle, loving, and virtuous. "It 

 was a dove (ever since sacred to peace) that 



