26 
THE PIGEONS. 
rears its stately head among the other trees 
of the forest. The fruit of the palm is as 
unfailing as that of the banyan ; for nature is 
prodigal of gifts to her children in those sunny 
climes. 
I daresay you think the pigeon cannot be 
compared with the parrot in the beauty of its 
plumage, and wonder T should call it richly 
dressed. But like everything else in a tropical 
country, the pigeons seem to borrow tints from 
the glowing sky, the shining foliage, and the 
brilliant flowers around them. 
Their plumage shines with a metallic lustre, 
and glitters, as that of the humming-bird 
does, like gold and silver. It has the same 
property of varying in colour with every move- 
ment of the bird, as he rustles about among 
the branches. In one light, his feathers look 
blue, in another, green or violet, or even black, 
and this adds not a little to his beauty. 
The pigeon* that lives upon the banyan 
tree is gi*een, like the leaf ; but his eyes and 
feet are of a brilliant red, and he climbs a 
little as the parrots do. A flock of these 
* Columha Aromatica. 
