460 THE STOCK DOYE. 



four species which occur in Britain belong to the genus Columba. 

 A solitary individual of an American species has also been ad- 

 duced, belonging to the genus Ectopistes" 



This is the Long-tailed Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes Mi- 

 gratoria), of which the only specimen obtained in this country 

 was described by Dr. FLEMING in his History of British Animals. 

 Of the Columbine birds MUDIE observes, " that they have in all 

 ages claimed much of the attention of mankind ; and the poets 

 have chosen them as the type of all that is gentle, amiable, and 

 affectionate. The mournful sound of their voices, the attachment 

 of the pair to each other, and to their young ; the form, gloss, and 

 colour of the birds, and the evolutions which they perform on 

 the wing, all give them an interest to the lover of nature ; while 

 the rapid rate at which they breed, and the flavour of their flesh, 

 have made them of consideration in an economical point of view. 

 They are, however, very voracious feeders, and while the ripe 

 grain and pulse are in the ground, probably destroy more than 

 they are worth ; but at other seasons they are not without their 

 uses. 



" The characteristics of the order are : the bill of moderatelength, 

 covered at the base with a membrane, in which the nostrils are 

 pierced, and the upper mandible curved at the point ; the tail 

 containing twelve feathers, and the feet having three toes before 

 and one behind, free their whole length, and all articulated to the 

 extremity of the tarsus, so that they are equally adapted for 

 walking on the ground, for perching, or supporting the bird on 

 tufts of vegetation, of which it eats the seed." 



180. THE STOCK DOVE. 

 Columba (Enas, Lix. Le Biset, BUF. Die Holztaube, BECH. 



Description. The Stock Dove is thirteen inches in length, 

 and about the size of the common Pigeon. The beak, which 

 is somewhat curved at the point, is whitish, except in summer, 

 when it changes to a pale red ; that portion of it, however, 

 round the nostrils is orange. The iris is brown: the feet 

 blood red. The head, as far as the middle of the neck, is 

 bluish grey: the middle and lower part of the neck dove 

 colour : the breast is reddish grey, with a bright purple gloss 

 upon it : the rest of the under part of the body light grey. 

 The upper part of the back, with the wing coverts and scapulars, 

 are grey, the latter being also tinged with red : the middle of 



