WOOD PIGEON. 



163 



legs, which are feathered below the knee, and the toes, are 

 purple red, darkest behind they are covered with scales. 

 Claws, dark brown. 



The female differs very little from the male the colours 

 not so bright. Length, one foot five inches and a quarter. 

 The wings expand to the width of two feet four inches. The 

 tail tinged with brown. 



The young are at first covered with pale yellow down, and 

 have the eyes closed by a film, through which the pupil of 

 the eye may be plainly seen, for nine days after they are 

 hatched. When fully fledged they are of the same colours as 

 the adult, but duller in tint, and tinged with brown, the 

 white ring and the iridescent hues being wanting. After the 

 first moult the plumage is complete, but becomes afterwards 

 somewhat deeper and purer. Varieties have sometimes been 

 met with spotted with white. A liver-coloured one was shot 

 by Mr. George Johnson, of Melton Boss, Lincolnshire. 



