ORDER GALLING. 277 



able to fly at a month old. The flesh is preferable to that 

 of the ringdove, and is of a very exquisite flavour. 



From the wild Blset Pigeon it would appear that our 

 domestic races have sprung. It inhabits all the old continent- 

 It lives in flocks, and nestles in the holes of trees and rocks; 

 from which last peculiarity, it has sometimes been called the 

 rock pigeon. In domestication, one variety has been pre- 

 served, which keeps the colours of the original, and is of the 

 largest size. The tame bisets will resume their liberty, when 

 within reach of wild ones, and these are the individuals which 

 we see nestling in the midst of towns, in the cavities of old 

 walls, and the arches of bridges. The reverse will also some- 

 times take place, and we find the wild bisets quit their inde- 

 pendent state, to mix with the pigeons of the dove-cotes, and 

 continue to live with them. 



On the Domestic Pigeon we shall be forced to dwell a little 

 more in detail, though our brief space must of necessity 

 confine us to observations of importance, and, indeed, prevent 

 us from embracing a very large number of interesting facts 

 connected with this species. 



The domestic pigeon has branched out into an immense 

 number of accidental varieties, the handsomest and most 

 variegated of which, being preserved secluded from others and 

 paired together, have successively engendered all those various 

 races, of which man is the mesne creator, and which without 

 would never have existed. 



Though the domestic pigeons are voluntary captives, they 

 will sometimes abandon the establishments which we have 

 provided for them, return to their ancient state, and nestle 

 and bring up their progeny in old towers, or the hollows of 

 trees. Their off'spring, however, often return to the places 

 abandoned by their parents. 



Buffbn says, that the pigeons of our dove-cotes are but 

 half-domesticated, and still retain the instinct of flying in 



