INTRODUCTION. 



THE Columbine birds, familiarly known as Pigeons and Doves, constitute a 

 very peculiar and well marked group of animals, interesting not only to the 

 scientific naturalist, on account of the great peculiarities of structure and habits 

 that they present to his notice, but also to more general observers, as one of 

 their number, the Rock Dove, Columba livia, has, from the remotest periods 

 of recorded time, passed into a state of domestication, and been subject to a 

 greater amount and number of variations than any other animal belonging to the 

 class of birds — variations so great, that did they exist in a state of nature, 

 they would not be regarded by ornithologists as characterizing varieties of one 

 species, but would be considered as belonging to birds of distinct genera, or 

 groups. 



In the following treatise it is proposed to give, in the first instance, an account 

 of the structure, habits, and food of the wild original of our domestic breeds, 

 the knowledge of which will greatly aid the breeder in treating his birds in 

 a more natural and therefore more successful manner. The evidence which 

 proves all our varieties to have been derived from one and the same wild species 

 will next be considered. 



Then will follow the consideration of the Pigeon as a domestic animal ; this 

 portion of the work will include the characteristics of all the varieties, from the 

 semi-reclaimed Blue Rock of our dovecots, through the different races to the 

 most artificial high-class breeds, such as the Pouter, Short-faced Tumbler, and 

 Carrier ; and the practical management of the several varieties will be fully treated, 

 from the construction of a dovecot for Blue Rocks to the artificial arrangements 

 requisite for rearing the more delicate breeds with success. 



The singular faculty exercised by the long distance homing birds will be 

 fully investigated, and accounts of the methods of training these pigeons that 

 are adopted, both in England and on the Continent, will be fully described. 



