IMGKONS. DON KS. AND SAND-GROUSE. /o 



bill into water, fill it with liquid, and then lift the head so that 

 the water may run down the throat, as though there were no 

 throat muscles fitted for forcing water upward as is the case 

 with cows, horses, and other quadrupeds; with man also, a 

 juggler being able to drink a glass of wine when standing on 

 his head. The pigeon family on the other hand, as also the 

 sand-grouse, plunge the bill into water and hold it there until 

 their thirst is quenched. Their immense powers of flight 

 enable them to indulge their liking for dry soils and yet get 

 to water when they need to. On the wing they more resemble 

 plover than they do their game cousins of Scottish and Eng- 

 lish moors. 



Before closing this little notice of these interesting 

 species, it should be mentioned that Pere David describes 

 fifteen different sorts of pigeons and doves belonging to China. 

 Some, however, are very local, and found only in the west 

 or near the spurs thrown off by the mighty Himalayas. Some 

 are connected with the island fauna, with Hainan or Formosa, 

 for example. Of pigeons, as distinct from doves, there may 

 be mentioned the Eastern rock pigeon ( Columbu intermedia) 

 which is found in great numbers amongst the hilly parts of 

 northern China. It is usually said that all our tame varieties 

 of pigeons have been bred by crossing from the common 

 will rock pigeon in England. It would be interesting to know 

 whether the Chinese have any such belief respecting theirs 

 and whether they consider their rock pigeon also the parent 

 of all the rest. 



