COLUMBA, the pigeon, in natural his tory, a genus of birds of the order of Passeres. Generic character : bill weak, straight, descending towards the 'tip; nostrils oblong, and almost covered with a soft tumid membrane ; tongue entire; legs short, and generally red; toes divid ed to their origin. Latham enumerates no less than 66 species, and Gmelin men tions even 82, besides considerable varie ties. We shall confine our notices to the few which follow: C. domestics, or the common pigeon. Of these birds vast flocks arrive in Eng land every year from the northern cli mates, to which they return on the ad vance of spring. Many, however, re main in the wild and mountainous dis tricts of this island during the whole year, and breed in the clefts of rocks, or the ruins of human habitations, or in the de cayed parts of trees. From this wild state they are easily induced to inhabit the dove-house, which is the first stage of domestication, and near which they find, in vast abundance, and within a small compass, all those conveniences, which, in tracts far from human habitation, they can collect only from a considerable dis tance, and with extreme difficulty. From this accommodation by man, however, there is perpetual danger of their recur ring to their former state of freedom, in which, though their means of subsistence are more scanty, they are less subject to alarms. The wild pigeon breeds only twice in a year, but its prolific tenden cies increase in proportion to its degree of domestication; and when that is com plete, it will lay even every month, but scarcely ever more than two eggs, con taining generally a male and female bird. The flesh of this bird is highly va lued for the table. Its dung is consider ed, for some species of land, as a most ad mirable manure, and it is of considerable service also in tanning skins for shoe leather. In Egypt, a pigeon-house is considered as an indispensable part of every complete farming establishment ; and in the capital of Persia, there are re ported to be 3000 of these buildings, the privilege of keeping which is denied to Christians in that country. An effica cious inducement for pigeons to remain in any particular spot is furnished by a mixed heap of loam, rubbish, and salt. Incubation is performed among these birds alternately by the male and female ; and the young are ledfrom the mouths of the old parents, who are said, for this purpose, by contracting some particular muscles, to draw up the provisions which they have swallowed. Pigeons have been occasionally used for the conveyance of letters, in cases in which intercourse be tween the parties was extremely diffi cult; the bird is to be taken from the places to which the intelligence is to be sent, and when liberated will return to its destination with great rapidity, with the interesting billet its wing. There
are few or no cases, however, which now compel recourse to so operose and doubt ful an expedient.
C. palumbus, or the ring-dove. These are found in almost all parts of Europe. They depart from England, however, to wards the close of the year, and are ab sent till the spring. build large and ill compacted nests in the tops of trees, and avoid the habitations of men. They are one of the largest species of the pigeon, their length being rather more than seventeen inches. Sea Ayes, Plate IV. fig. 6.
C. turtur, or the turtle-dove. These arrive in England later than any other migrating pigeon, and depart earlier.
During their short stay in this country, they are to be seen, not unfrequently, in Ken', :n flocks of about fifteen or twenty, and commit no small depredations on the pea fields of that county, peas being their most favourite food. They build general ly' in the wood!, and on the highest trees. The sounds of the male are particularly soft and impressive, and his assiduity to please the companion of his joys and cares has induced the poets of every age to ex hibit him as a model of pure, constant, and delicate attachment. See Ayes, Plate IV. fig. 7.
C. migratoria, or the American migra tory pigeon. These birds pass the sum mer in the northern parts of North Ame rica, and on the approach of winter move towards the southern. They build in trees, and feed principally upon acorns, and mast of every description. They are also extremely fond of rice and corn. They pass in their periodical migrations in flocks, stated to extend in length two miles, and a quarter of a mile in width ; occasionally alighting in the course of their journey, and covering the foliage of considerable woods. During what is called their ffght time, the common peo ple of the country easily knock them from their roosts, and find them a very nourish ing and pleasant, as well as cheap article of food. In Louisiana, it is a common en tertainment in an evening, in which ladies frequently participate, to enter the woods frequented by these birds, and burn a small quantity of sulphur under the trees on which they are lodged. Stupified by this application, they almost immediately quit their hold, and drop lifeless to the ground, whence they are picked up in quantities.
C. cenas inhabits old turrets, and rocky banks of Europe and Siberia, fig. 2.