THE WOOD PIGEON. 



ALL the numerous and beautiful varieties of 

 this tribe derive their origin from the Stock- 

 dove, or Wood Pigeon ; which is of a deep 

 bluish ash colour; the breast dashed with a 

 fine changeable green and purple; the wings 

 marked with two black bars ; the back white, 

 and the tail barred near the end with black. 

 Such are the colours of the Pigeon in its na- 

 tural state; and from these simple tints the 

 effects of domestication have produced a va- 

 riety that words cannot describe, nor even 

 fancy suggest. The Stockdove usually builds 

 in holes of rocks, or in excavated trees. Its 

 murmuring note, at morning and dusk, is highly 

 pleasing. 



(83) 



