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from which all our numerous varieties of tame and 

 partially tame Pigeons derive their origin. How 

 such an almost endless number of varieties have 

 been developed from this one species I must leave to 

 Mr. Darwin to explain. There is one great point of 

 similarity of habit between our common domestic 

 Pigeons and their common ancestor, the Bock Dove, 

 namely, their dislike to perching in trees. I do not 

 mean to say that neither of them ever do so, but that 

 it is a very rare occurrence: as for the common 

 Pigeons I can answer for them that they very 

 seldom perch in trees, as I have not only a good 

 many Pigeons myself, but most of those in the parish 

 pay me a visit every morning, when I am feeding 

 the Wild Ducks and Gulls, to participate in the 

 scramble ; but although the place is quite sur- 

 rounded with trees, the Pigeons always take up 

 their position on the chimneys, the ridge of the roof 

 or the coping of the house, or on the iron railings 

 (on which they never have any objection to perch), 

 and on these places they may be seen all day ; but 

 only three or four times in my life have I seen them 

 on the trees. Any one who keeps Pigeons, or jhas 

 them kept near him, may easily remark this pecu- 

 liarity for himself, and see how widely the tame 

 Pigeons differ in this respect from the Wood Pigeon, 

 the Stock Dove and the Turtle Dove, all of which 

 both perch and roost in trees. There is also a 

 peculiarity of plumage which has struck me, and 



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