32 



DOMESTIC PIGEON. 



head, the upper part of the back, the wing-coverts, 

 the breast and the belly, are grey striped with 

 bluish ; the wing-coverts being darkest : the lower 

 part of the back is white : the neck is of a fine 

 green, with rich reflections : the greater feathers 

 of the wing are dusky : the secondaries and the 

 greater coverts are grey, with blue markings ; they 

 are terminated with black, and form on each side 

 two transverse bands of that colour: the tail is 

 similar to the body ; the whole of its feathers are 

 dusky, and the outer one on each side has its ex- 

 terior web white : the beak is of a pale red : the 

 feet are red, and the claws black. Native of 

 Teneriff. 



The principal variety is the C. domestica of 

 Linn^ ; this appears to be the first variation from 

 the wild state : it is of a less size, and its co- 

 lours vary considerably, some being wholly white, 

 others black or red, others have the plumage va- 

 riegated ; but the greatest number are of a grey- 

 blue ; and the neck has frequently a green-gold 

 reflection : but the generality of them are found to 

 have the lower part of the back white : the beak is 

 brown, its membrane at the base reddish, speckled 

 with white : the feet red. 



The second variety, called the Roman Pigeon, 

 is rather larger, measuring fifteen inches in length : 

 it varies exceedingly in its colours and the shape 

 of its feathers : the beak is more or less red, in 

 some more dusky : some varieties are found with 

 the feet so completely covered with feathers, as 

 to prevent the bird from walking : others have the 



