ORDER GALLlNiE. 285 



being too vulnerable in the crop, prefer to attack or defend 

 with the wings ; but their adversaries always prefer to ap- 

 proach them closely and seize them near the bill, or in the 

 bill itself. The small rough-footed pigeons rarely employ 

 either bill or wing, but precipitate themselves on the body of 

 the enemy, and raising him up, make him lose his footing 

 and push him aside. Very frequently, in the moment in 

 which they pass their head under the body of their adversary, 

 they bite the skin in that part which is denuded of 

 feathers. 



There is a humour secreted from the two glands of the 

 coccyx in the pigeons, which varies in its odour in the dif- 

 ferent races. It is probable that this humour communicates 

 the peculiar odour which we observe in the bodies of the 

 pigeons, — though, doubtless, the cutaneous perspiration comes 

 in for a considerable share in its production. This odour 

 certainly is not the same in the different races. That of the 

 domestic biset, for instance, is agreeable, while that of the 

 Roman pigeon is sometimes foetid. 



The disposition to live in society is not one of the least 

 interesting phenomena to be remarked in these birds. Their 

 jealousies and quarrelsome character cannot overcome it. 

 It is doubtless a primitive characteristic of the species. It is 

 not, however, turned by them to advantage in the way of 

 combat with their common enemies; but it increases and 

 assists that watchfulness which is the means of their preser- 

 vation : and as they seek their food in common, probably it 

 augments their resources of subsistence. 



It may be remarked, that when these birds flock together, 

 some of them act as sentinels or videttes ; others are more 

 occupied in seeking out food than in eating, while the rest 

 are engaged in satisfying their appetite. These last are 

 guided on their march by those who seek the food, and both 

 rely for protection on the vigilance of their sentries. The 



