222 Description of a new Indian Pigeon. [No. 3. 



pure ; and, as thus observed, it shews no disposition to associate with 

 the domestic breeds in neighbouring dove-cots, although considered 

 to be the parent race from which the latter are mainly derived. 

 Even when eggs taken from the inland colonies referred to have 

 been hatched, and the young brought up by domestic Pigeons, these 

 Kockiers have been known to quit their foster-parents, as soon as 

 they could fly strongly, to rejoin their immediate relatives and pro- 

 genitors. Another characteristic of the race is, that they like to 

 breed in extensive societies ; so that the large colonies of them soon 

 absorb any stray birds even from a great distance. 



In England, there is likewise a race of wild or semi-wild blue 

 Pigeons, which maintains itself distinct, and (though numerous in 

 individuals) continues as true to its distinctive colouring and all 

 other characters as does the genuine Rockier, of which it is regarded 

 as a variety. These birds frequent inland cliffs and large buildings ; 

 being also extensively reared in dove-cots to meet the demand for 

 Pigeon-matches. They have invariably a speckled wing, each covert 

 being marked with a black spot on each of its webs, in addition to 

 the black bars of typical livia. The scapularies also are thus 

 marked ; and the back indistinctly. The croup is pure white, as in 

 ordinary livia : and the race is chiefly remarkable for the permanency 

 of its particular markings, and for commonly inhabiting much more 

 inland than the true Biset* 



Another such race in Italy (a degree, perhaps, more different,) 

 is indicated by the Prince of Canino by the name C. tuekicola, 

 and it has also been received from Persia. The croup being of " a 



* The same spotting of the wing is common among the Indian domestic 

 Pigeons derived immediately from 0. intermedia, and otherwise not differing 

 from the pure wild race of the latter : but I know of no analogous wild or 

 semi- wild race in this country, which presents this particular colouring as a con- 

 stant distinction. Individuals or pairs so marked are here common among the 

 tame flocks ; with other varieties of colouring, as black, buff, pure white, pied, 

 &c, and without variation in other characters or tendency to assume the pecu- 

 liarities of the various ' fancy breeds.' These last manifest no tendency ever to 

 return to wildness ; their domestication being too complete : but tame Pigeons of 

 some kind are said to have gone wild in N. America, a few pairs of them breeding 

 along the highlands of the Hudson ; and whether these * feral' birds tend to 

 assume an uniform and typical coloration, we have not learned. 



