Page:Pigeons - their structure, varieties, habits, and management (IA b28107901).pdf/13



HE Columbine birds, familiarly known as Pigeons and Doves, constitute a very peculiur and well marked group of animals, interesting not only to the scientific naturalist, on account of the great peculiarities of structure and habits that they present to his notice, but also to more general observers, as one of their number, the Rock Dove, Columba livia, has, from the remotest periods of recorded time, passed into a state of domestication, and been subject to a greater amount and number of variations than any other animal belonging to the class of birds—variations so great, that did they exist in a state of nature, they would not be regarded by ornithologists of characterizing varieties of one species, but would be considered as belonging to birds of distinct genera, or groups.

In the following treatise it is proposed to give, in the first instance, an account of the structure, habits, and food of the wild original of our domestic breeds, the knowledge of which will greatly aid the breeder in treating his birds in a more natural and therefore more successful manner. The evidence which proves all our varieties to have been derived from one and the same wild species will next be considered.

Then will follow the consideration of the Pigeon as a domestic animal; this portion of the work will include the characteristics of all the varieties, from the semi-reclaimed Blue Rock of our dovecots, through the different races to the most artificial high-class breeds, such as the Pouter, Short-faced Tumbler, and Carrier; and the practical management of the several varieties will be fully treated, from the construction of a dovecot for Blue Rocks to the artificial arrangements requisite for rearing the more delicate breeds with success.

The singular faculty exercised by the long distance homing birds will be fully investigated, and accounts of the methods of training these pigeons that are adopted, both in England and on the Continent, will be fully described.