152 DISTINCTIONS. [CHAP. v. 



sorts of Pigeons are usually kept in a Dovery ; the one 

 belonging to rural districts, and, as others call it, a 

 Rock Pigeon, which is kept in towers, and among the 

 beams and rafters (columinibus) of a farm-house, and 

 which is on that account named columba, since from na- 

 tural timidity it seeks the highest parts of roofs ; 

 whence it happens that the rustic Pigeons especially 

 seek for towers, to which they may at their own plea- 

 sure fly from the fields, and return thither. The second 

 kind of Pigeons is more quiet; and, contented with the 

 food given it at home, it accustoms itself to feed within 

 the limits of the gate. This kind is of a white colour 

 principally, but the country sort is without white or va- 

 riegated colours. From these two original stocks a 

 third mixed or mongrel kind is bred for the sake of the 

 produce." 



The complete agreement of the above description 

 with the Pigeons kept at the present day, ought to ope- 

 rate as a check against the too hasty adoption of the 

 belief that all our Tame and Fancy Pigeons are derived 

 and descended from the Columba lima or Blue Rock ; or 

 at least, which is all we ask, it may serve as a reason- 

 able excuse for those who think they see sufficient grounds 

 for entertaining a doubt respecting the accuracy of the 

 generally-received opinion. One source of error is a 

 careless use of terms ; and we frequently find that per- 

 sons, when speaking of Dovehouse Pigeons, only mean 

 a mixed rabble of birds produced by allowing all sorts 

 of mongrels to breed together as they will, Varro's 

 "miscellum tertium genus," in short; but these ought 

 no more to be called Dovehouse Pigeons, than a pack 

 of promiscuously-bred village curs ought to be called a 

 pack of hounds : they are Tame Pigeons, that is all. 



