82 
PIGEONS. 
own exertions for support, they can scarcely be called 
“ reclaimed,” much less 44 domesticated.” Man, indeed, has 
only taken advantage of certain habits peculiar to the species, 
and by the substitution of an artificial for a real cavern, (their 
natural habitation,) to which the pigeon house may be com¬ 
pared, has brought it into a kind of voluntary subjection, 
without violating, or at least greatly infringing upon its 
natural condition, and lias rendered it subservient to his 
benefit and use. 
DESCRIPTION. 
In its natural state, the bill of this bird is blackish-brown; 
the nostril membrane red, sprinkled, as it were, with a white 
powder; the irides, pale reddish-orange; the head and throat, 
bluish-grey; the sides of the neck and upper part of the 
breast are dark lavender-purple, glossed with shades of green 
and purplish-red; the lower part of the breast, abdomen, wing 
coverts, as well as the upper mandible, bluish-grey, the greater 
coverts and secondaries are barred with black, forming tw< 
