Extraordinary Pigeons

Green-Armytage, who previously highlighted under-appreciated fowl in Extraordinary Chickens and Extraordinary Pheasants, here turns his attention to the much-maligned pigeon. In glossy, full-color photographs, he portrays pigeons and doves both familiar and exotic (mostly the latter): the Silesian Swallow, whose""leg muffs"" look like another set of wings sprouting from its shanks; the spindly-legged Maltese; and the plump Marchenero Pouter, who can inflate his crop like a balloon (selective breeding for such a trait began over four centuries ago). For those previously inclined to think of pigeons as city-dwelling""rats with wings,"" Green-Armytage offers plenty of evidence for a reassessment. Pigeons are monogamous, and the males take part in nest-building, incubating the eggs and feeding the babies; pigeons are excellent messengers (armies have used them for some 2,500 years, from Cyrus of Persia in 550 B.C. to U.S. servicemen in WWII); and they respond well to training and are capable of impressive acrobatics. But the real reason to pick up the book is not Green-Armytage's brief narrative, but the 200 color illustrations of wild and""man-made"" (i.e., bred) pigeons and doves--which should do even more to spark admiration for these birds than their feats of derring-do.