GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 
91 
by the sexes to eacli other, it was dedicated to the 
Goddess of Love, and represented as her constant 
and appropriate attendant. That the common pigeon 
and domestic turtle of the present day, are the same 
species which were thus cultivated and protected by 
the ancients, is evidently and satisfactorily proved 
by tbe descriptions of various authors, as well as the 
numerous and faithful representations handed down 
to us by the chisel of their sculptors. 
The voice or notes of the ColurabidEe are few, 
in all the species much akin to each other, and 
consist of guttural sounds or cooings frequently re- 
peated ; in many they are plaintive and tender in 
tone, in others hoarse and rather unpleasant. They 
are principally used by the male when paying court 
to his mate, and are mostly confined to the pairing 
and breeding season. 
As a food for man, the flesh of the pigeons is 
wholesome and very nutritious, generally rich in 
flavour, juicy, and highly coloured. 
The general characters of the family may be thus 
stated : Bill strait, the tip hard and homy, more or 
less arched and deflected, the base covered with a 
soft, naked, and bulging membrane, which partly 
covers and protects the nostrils. Orbits of the eyes 
more or less naked. Feet with four toes, nearly 
divided, three anterior and one posterior, the latter 
placed on the same base or plane with the front toes. 
We now commence our description of the family 
with the 
