140 
RING PIGEON, OR CUSHAT. 
although they may be rendered very tame when in 
confinement, they shew no disposition to breed even 
by themselves, mucli less with the common pigeon, 
and upon being set at liberty, soon lose any little 
attachment they may have shewn to the place in 
which they were reared, and betake themselves to 
their natural haunts to return no more. 
Taking the species as a typical example of the re- 
stricted genus Colnmba, we find the bill of moderate 
strength, the tip without emargination and gently 
ai'ched, the nostrils protected by a soft inflated mem- 
brane ; the wings calculated for vigorous flight, the 
second and third quills being the longest, and near- 
ly equal ; the tail is square or even at the end ; 
the tarsi short, and the feet adapted either for 
perching or walking ; the outer and inner toes are 
of equal length, the hinder rather shorter than the 
tarsus, and not provided with so broad or flat a sole, as 
that of the true arboreal pigeons. In size it is superior 
to the majority of the Columbid®, measuring from 
sixteen to seventeen inches in length. The honiy 
part of the bill is orange-yellow, the basal or soft 
part impending the nostrils, covered with a white 
mealy substance. The head, cheeks, throat, neck, 
lower back and rump, are Wuish-grey, those of the 
side of the neck glossed with green, and bounded 
ly were destroyed by some accident during incubation. 
This fact shews, that, under favourable circumstances, and 
when the habits of the bird are attended to, a progeny may 
be obtamed. 
