-1 
( Letter from C. Cope to Joseph Walton continued) 
of great extent. 
Others who saw these flocks which I alluded to said at once 
without a moment's hesitation that they were genuine Wild Pigeon- 
those who were well acquainted with that bird. We can easily see 
there is quite a distinct appearance in the two varieties, the Wild 
Pigeon has a long tapering tail the under side of which and out-' 
side feather are white. The Band-tail Pigeon has an even tail with 
a broa&* dark bar near the middle but no white . 
Before writing this account I asked my son George who was with me, 
to describe the Pigeons we saw on the plains and his description 
agrees exactly with mine and with those that I have quoted. I 
gave no leading questions but simply inquired of him as to his 
remembrance of the peculiar - features of the bird; and he has an ex- 
cellent jTnernoryand has taken great interest in observing the more 
prominent points r as well as, the most minute details of such things. 
