One habit that Pigeons and Doves have, all their own, is that in drinking they do not raise the head to swallow like other birds, but keep the beak in the water until they are through.
"Our domestic Pigeons have beautiful and varied plumage, but to my mind many wild species surpass them.

The two best-known wild species are the Passenger Pigeon of the Northwest, and the Mourning Dove, which may be found nesting everywhere in temperate North America.
"Here are the two birds"-- and the Doctor set them upon the table.

"At first glance you may think them much alike, and if you should see them on the wing you would surely be confused.
"Rap, you may describe the Passenger Pigeon, and Nat shall take the Dove; let me see if you can do it clearly enough for your written tables." [Illustration: Passenger Pigeon.] Rap looked at the Pigeon for some time.

"It isn't an easy bird to describe--all the colors run together so.

It has bluish-gray upper parts, and underneath it is a sort of pinky brown with white under the tail.