53 PIGEONS AND DOVES A. INTRODUCTORY 1. No sharp distinction can be drawn between Pigeons and Doves both of which are members of the family Columbidae but the name Pigeon is exclusively given to the wild Pigeon and the name Dove is most commonly applied to the smaller members of the group. In general English literature, however, the two words are used almost indifferently. though the In Sanskrit literature also, the position is exactly the same, terms graad and denote the wild Blue Rock Pigeon and Dove respec- tively in Caraka, Suśruta and some Law-books (frer), the poets have not always observed the distinction and the domestic Pigeon is even according to Caraka and others. The lexicons, with certain exceptions like the Vaijayanti, have treated the terms as synonymous. Indeed, ,1 would seem to be the oldest name for both Pigeon and Dove, as according to Vedic scholars in the Rgveda does not mean a Pigeon and the term would seem to have been used for both. Thus in Rgveda (1.30.4) probably refers to a Pigeon. Here it is evidently regarded as an auspicious bird, for god Indra is requested to approach the cup of Soma juice offered to him with the warmth and eagerness of a Pigeon courting his mate. In the tenth Mandala (165.1-5), however, which may well be separated in point of time from the first Mandala by several centuries, the is a messenger of evil. If this was a particular kind of Dove, as is highly probable, it would appear to make the beginning of the prejudice against the Dove as a bird of evil omen. The belief, probably originated, as all superstitions generally do, with a few accidental coincidences of serious domestic calamity including death, with the entry of some particular Dove into the house. This old Rgvedic prejudice against the ta finds an echo in the Vájasaneyi Samhitä where a distinction between and arra has been observed for the first time. The grad as an auspicious bird is named for the auspicious day, "अहे पारावतानालभते, 24.25 while कपोत 1. The equation, कपोत: स्याच्चितकण्ठपा रावतविहङ्गयोः- मेदिनी, shows that the includes both Dove and Pigeons. term Pigeons and Doves कपोत = Pigeon ] and Dove in the Rg Veda -पारावत- Pigeon -हारिद्रक, ef carrer हारीत, Green Pigeon कपोत Doves -भस्माङ्ग पारावत, efter ter -रुचक कपोत 2 . पारावत श्वेत पारावत Snow Pigeon afcater -पट or वर्धमान कपोत --अरुण or काण-कपोत Any Green Pigeon Imperial Green Pigeons - or कोकदेव } Green Pigeons -चित्र-or Blue Rock Pigeon Wood Pigeon [-धूसर कपोत- Little Brown Dove कुंकुमधूम्पकपोत-- Do & Rufous Turtle Dove Pin-or White-tailed [-शुकच्छवि-or हारीत कपोत } -Red Turtle Dove चित्रपक्ष कपोत -घवल कपोत- Ring Dove -तुषार कपोत (Back formation from तुसाल) } }Spotted Dove 251 Bar-tailed Cucl Emerald Dove
