migratory pigeon. 
303 
formidaUe bodies; and this commonly when the snows 
*re heavy to the north, the winter here more than 
'<sually mild, and acorns, &c. abundant. 
The nassenger pigeon is sixteen inches lon^, and 
tweutv-fonr inches in extent ; bill, black ; nostril, covered 
V a hi‘^h roiindinjir protuberance ; eye, brilliant nery 
trano-e orbit, or space surrounding it, purplish flesh 
toloured skin ; head, upper part of the neck, and chin, 
& fine slate blue, lightest on the chin ; throat, breast, 
^nd sides, as far as the thighs, a reddish hazel ; lower 
part of the neck, and sides of the same, resiileiident 
tWeable gold, green, and purplish crimson, the latter 
■host nredominant ; the ground colour slate ; the nlumage 
Of this part is of a peculiar structure, ragged at the 
tods ; b&ly and vent, white ; lower jiart ot the breast, 
fadinir into a pale vinaceous red; thighs, tlie same; 
'egs and feet, lake, seamed with white ; back, rump, and 
'ail-coverts, d.ark slate, spotted on the shoulders with 
a few scattered marks of black ; the scaimlais, tinged 
"'ith brown; greater coverts, light slate; jiiimaries 
and secondaries, dull black, the former tipt and edged 
"ith brownish vi hite; tail, long, and greatly cuneiform, 
the feathers taperiu^^ to\>'ards the point, the two 
htiddle ones plain deep black, the other live, on each 
aide, hoary white, lightest near the tips, deepening into 
!'luish near the bases, where each is crossed on the 
inner vane with a broad spot of black, and nearer the 
■•oot with another of ferruginous; primaries, edged 
" ith white ; bastard wing, black. , • , 
The female is about half an inch shorter, and an inch 
Win extent; breast, cinereous brown ; upper part of 
ttto neck, inclining to ash ; the spot of changeable gold, 
^een, and carmine, much less, and not so brilliant, 
fail-coverts, brownish slate ; naked orbits, slate coloureU, 
“I all other respects like the male in colour, but less 
I'ivid, and more tinged with brown ; the eye not so 
''filliant an orange. In both, the tail has only twelve 
‘«athers. 
