THE PIGEON. bo 



class, by describing a species, in which utility is joined to ele- 

 gance of form and plumage, and which is therefore adapted to 

 excite our admiration of the created system, and our gratitude 

 towards the all-wise and bountiful Creator. 



THE PIGEON 



Is so universally known, that a particular description of it 

 would be a waste of time both to the writer and the reader ; and 

 indeed, the variety of plumage which the tame kind displays, is 

 so great, that it would exhaust the labours of the pen or pencil. 



All the beautiful varieties of the pigeon are said to derive their 

 origin from the stock dove, or wood pigeon, which is invariably 

 of a beautiful ash colour, and the breast dashed with a fine 

 changeable green and purple. These are the colours of the 

 pigeon in its natural state ; and from these simple but beautiful 

 tints, the effects of domestication have produced a variety that 

 words cannot describe, nor even fancy itself suggest. 



The most distinguished varieties of the pigeon tribe, are the 

 stock dove, the colours of which are already described, and 

 which in size considerably exceeds the tame pigeon ; and the 

 ring dove, which is still larger, and receives its appellation from 

 a beautiful white circle around the neck, above and below 

 which, the contiguous parts are delightfully variegated with 

 changeable colours. These almost always fly in large flocks, 

 and are so wild that all attempts to reclaim them have been in- 

 effectual. 



The turtle dove is the most celebrated of the whole race : it 

 is considerably smaller than the common pigeon, and its amiable 

 inoffensiveness, and inviolable fidelity to its mate, have furnished 

 sentimental writers with the most beautiful allusions. 



One of the most remarkable traits in the history of this kind 

 of birds, is the custom which has sometimes prevailed, of em- 

 ploying the pigeon in carrying letters from place to place, in 

 time of war, and in case of sieges, when all means of communi- 

 cation were intercepted by the enemy. This was performed by 

 a timely interchange of the birds, which, being let fly, imme- 

 diately returned to their former abode. We find in history 

 several instances of this communication by carrier pigeons, 

 which, however, are now rendered useless through the general 

 adoption of fire-arms. They are, however, the most expedkious 

 carriers in the world, and have been known to perform a journey 

 of forty miles in an hour and a half. They are still used in the 

 East ; and Thevenot says, that they commonly travel from 

 Aleppo to Alexandria, in Syria, in six hours, which is a distance 

 of eighty-eight miles. The letters are generally fastened under 

 their wings. 



