PIGEON (Ital. pigione, piccione, or pipione, from pipiare, Lat. pipipe, to peep or cheep). a name sometimes applied, like dove (q.v.), to all the species of LAolumbida (q.v.), and sometimes almost restricted to those still included by ornithologists in thc genus columba; having a bill of moderate length, hard, and a little arched at the point, the base of the upper mandible covered with a soft thick skin, in which the nostrils are pierced; the feet with toes divided to the base, and formed both for walking snd perching; the wings rather large and pointed; the tail of moderate length, and genarally square at the end. The species of this group are numerous, and occur in almost all parts of the world. Some of them build their nests in trees, and sonic in holes of rocks; they lay only 2 eggs at a time, but breed twice or oftener in a year, and both the male and the female take part in incubation. The original of all the varieties of tilt/ DOMESTIC PIGEON is now almost universally believed Co be the ROCK PIGEON or ROCK DOVE (C. liria), the biset of the French, a bird of extensive geographical range, being found as far n. as the Faroe islands, and on many parts of the coasts of Europe, Asia as far as Japan, and the n. of Africa, breeding in crevices of rocks, and often within caverns which open on the sea. It swarms in prodigious numbers in some of the rocky islands of the Mediterranean: and even on the British coasts great numbers are found in some localities, particularly in the Orkneys and Hebrides. Its food consists partly of mollusks and other small animals, partly of grain and seeds; and it often makes unwelcome visits to the corn Acids of its vicinity. In a wild state this bird exhibits great uniformity both of size and plumage: being not quite 12 in. in length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail; the pre vailing color bluish-gray, in some parts with green and purple reflections, two broad and distinct bars of black across the closed wings; the lower part of the back white; the tail deep gray, with a broad black bar at the end; the bill blackish-brown; the legs and toes reddish-orange.—Until recently naturalists very generally confounded this species with the STOCK DOVE or SMALLER WOOD PIGEON (a inns), a species which inhabits woods, and generally builds in trees, preferring the hollows of old decaying trees, or the tops of such as have been pollarded and have become bushy—whence the name stock dove. In sonic of the open parts of England, however, it makes its nest in rabbits' burrows or other holes in the ground. It is rather larger than the rock pigeon; its prevailing color
is bluish gray, in some parts passing into pale gray, but nowhere into white; the witurs destitute of bands; the sides of the neck with green reflections; the breast purplish red. It congregates in large flocks in autumn and winter. It is partially migratory in some parts of Europe; a smuttier visitant of the northern regions. In Britain it is found only in the southern parts of the island. Its geographical range includes great parts of Europe and Asia, and the n. of Africa. It feeds on beech-mast, acorns, grain, pulse, etc., and sometimes resorts to turnip-fields to eat the tender tops. Its voice is very dif ferent both from that of the rock dove and that of the ring dove. Its flesh is of very fine flavor.—The RING DOVE, WOOD PIGEON, or CUSHAT (C. palumints), is the most com mon British species, and is diffused over great part of Europe, either as a permanent resident or a summer bird of passage, although it is not found at all in some of the most northern regions; and occurs also in the temperate parts of Asia, and the n. of Africa. Its soft loud coo is one of the pleasant intimations of approaching spring. It inhabits woods, and builds its nest among the branches of trees. It is the largest of the British species, being about 17 in. in entire length. It feeds on green corn, young clover, turnip tops, grain, pulse, acorns, etc. Where it abounds, its voracity is often very injurious to the fanner. It is gregarious in winter. It is in considerable estimation as an article of food; but it is very shy and wary, not easily approached by an inexperienced sports man.—These are all the British species of pigeon. Our limits quite preclude us from noticing almost any other. The RING-TAIL PIGEON (C. Caribbea) may be mentioned as a West Indian species, much valued for the richness and delicacy of its flesh, which is reckoned one of the greatest luxuries of that part of the world. The BALD-PATE cr WHITE-HEADED PIGEON (C. leucocepltala) is another large and fine species, plentiful in the West Indies. It migrates to the Keys of Florida iu summer.—The DOUBLE-CRESTED PIGEON (C. dilopha) is a large species, inhabiting the n. of Australia and warmer regions to the northward, remarkable for its crest, which consists of two parts, one on the back of the head, and another of lax recurred feathers springing from the forehead, and even from the base of the bill.