386 COMMON PIGEON. Class II. 



of all the rest, is crossed with a black bar; 

 the legs purplish red. 

 Varieties. The varieties produced from the domestic 

 pigeon are very numerous, and extremely ele- 

 gant; these are distinguished by names ex- 

 ■ pressive of their several properties, such as 

 Tumblers, Carriers, Jacolnnes, Croppers, Poivt- 

 ers, Runts, Tiirbits, Owls, Nuns,* &c. The 

 Carrier, most celebrated of these is the Carrier, which 

 from the superior attachment that pigeon shews 

 to its native place, is employed in many coun- 

 tries as the most expeditious courier : the let- 

 ters are tied under its wing, it is let loose, and 

 in a very short space of time returns to the 

 home it was brought from, with its advices. f 



* Vide Wil. orn. Moore s Columlarmm, and a treatise on do- 

 mestic pigeons, publisiied in 1765. The last illustrates the 

 names of the birds, with several neat figures. 



t This custom was observed by that legendary traveller. Sir 

 John Maundevile, knight, warrior and pilgrim ; who, with the 

 true spirit of religious chivalry, voyaged into the East, and pene- 

 trated as far as the borders of China, during the reigns o{ Edward 

 II. and III. 



•' In that contree," says he, " and other contrees bezonde, 

 thei han a custom, whan thei schulle usen werre, and whan 

 men holden sege abouten cytee or castelle, and thei withinnen 

 dur not senden out messagers with lettere, fro lord to lord, for 

 to aske sokour, thei maken here letters and bynden hem to the 

 nekke of a Colver, and leten the Colver flee ; and the Colveren 



