CHARACTERISTICS.--The beak is slender, straight, rather bent at the
point, swelled, and covered with a fleshy membrane at the base; the
shanks are short; the toes are divided to their origin. Doves feed
uniformly on grain, though some wild species also eat myrtle berries.
These birds are faithful to their mates, and produce only two young ones
at each brood, which they feed on grain already softened in their own
crops[119]. They are generally ranged amongst the passerine birds, or
among poultry, but I think it best to make them a distinct order, since
they have many distinguishing characteristics. The species I shall
mention are indigenous, and easily tamed at any age.