PIA YT EV evie 
AWS 2: 1b. AG. 
Lath. Gen. Syn. 4. p. 604. 1.—Suppl. 
p: 197- 
Le Pigeon fauvage, Brif. Orn. I. p. 86. No. 5. 
oe 
Yt is the opinion of Pennant, that all the beautiful varieties of 
Pigeons, fo highly efteemed by Pzgeon-fanciers, are def{cended origi- 
nally from one fpecies, the Steck Doue. Latham has, with confider- 
able induftry, arranged thefe fancy varieties under their Linnean fpe- 
cific names, which Pennant has omitted. Briffon imagines that the 
Roman Pigeon, Columba Hifpanica of Linneus, has given birth to all 
thefe varieties. 
That kind called the Carrier, is much celebrated for its particular 
attachment to its native place. It was anciently ufed in many eaftern 
countries to convey letters with expedition ; at prefent the cuftom is 
not fo general. ‘foinville {peaks of them in the crufade of St. Louis 
to Paleftine; and Za/fo in the fiege of Jerufalem, &c. ‘The cuftom © 
of conveying letters by means of thefe Birds, may be traced to a very 
early period. It is not only related of them, but of Swallows, by 
Pliny and Elan, that they were employed on fuch fervice; and the 
earlieft poets, who generally intermingled fome truth with their alle- 
gory, made the Dove the mefflenger of the lover, and emblem of 
innocence, 
“<< Gentle Dove, 
«« Whither fly’ft thou from above ” 
‘¢ From Anacreon, faieind, I rove, 
Bearing mandates to his love.” 
Anacreon, Ode 9, to Bathyilus. 
7 Ail 
