Evening star., 1949-10-14
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH

Does the distinction between a pigeon and
a dove ever bother you?
It did H. j. of Greenbelt, and he writes
as follows:
1--WE are very interested in pigeons and
want to learn more about them.
Our reference book tells us that a pigeon
is any of widely distributed family Co.
lumbidae) One of the domesticated varieties
Of the dove
"The book also tells us that the word
dove is applied specifically to many Of the
smaller species Of the pigeon.
1--WE have been under the impression that
the pigeon family includes the domesticated
varieties we see in our parks and the wild
varieties known as dove, turtle dove, etc.
1--WE also thought that while the dove
was pigeon the name applied specifically
and that wild pigeon applied to a specific
variety of the dove to distinguish it from
the turtle dove. mourning dove. etc.
"Are we right and is that what our book
is trying to tell us?
Would appreciate learning where we
could obtain pair Of young pigeons
Your column is must reading in our
house"
The Encyclopaedia BRITANNICA defines
pigeon as "a name of Norman introduction
for certain birds Of the family Columbae
(see dove)."
It says of dove, "a name applied to the
smaller members of the order Columbae,
but no sharp distinction can be drawn be-
tween pigeons and doves
Birds of America" quotes Prof. Alfred
Newton as follows:
mo sharp distinction can be drawn be-
tween pigeons and doves and in general
literature the two words are used almost
indifferently while no one species can be
pointed out to which the word dove taken
alone, seems TO be absolutely proper"
A popular work which includes the ground
dove says: "This little dove of the South
ern States is the smallest of all the pigeon
family found in North America"
They are all pigeons, then, and they are
all doves, but no one calls one of the COM
mon old pigeons dove, and surely nobody
ever called the turtle dove turtle pigeon"
Custom seems to play its usual role here.
It is customary to call certain birds doves
and others pigeons. Usually the smaller
ones are known as doves. The big ones as
pigeons. That is about all there is to 1t,
and it is not worth worrying over.
II one wants real homing pigeons pigeons
for racing, it is best to get in touch with an
expert. Some of these men are retired men
who worked with the famous pigeons OF the
armed services.
Around Washington the specimens most
Of us see most are the common pigeons OF
the parks and the Carolina or turtle dove
of our yards, the latter especially if we put
out food.
Often enough band Of abandoned pet
pigeons finds ones bird feeding station and
manages to make something Of nuisance Of
themselves by coming in small hocks from
dozen to 20 BIRDS
They eat, one thinks, altogether too much
food, and give no particular amusement or
interest to the one who provides the bill
Of fare. 49,.
The dove, on the other wing. is always
welcomed, even when as in few cases. as
many as 40 fly down.
All in all the turtle or mourning dove, or
| Carolina dove, as the books call it, is a
good feathered citizen.
| His face is not beautiful, but there is no
| need for it to be. The feathers are good.
especially on cold morning. when the diff
ferent grays browns and blues are accen-
tuated with flush Of pink. A very nice
bird, and it makes no particular difference
whether he is dove or pigeon. Actually
| he is both or either, but no one ever calls
him anything but dove.