Real World Web Services

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects.

The animal on the cover of Real World Web Services is a domestic pigeon (Columba livia). There are more than 150 breeds of domestic pigeon, in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns. The typical domestic pigeon is distinguished by its blue and gray plumage. As adults, domestic pigeons are approximately 12 to 14 inches long and can weigh up to 3.5 pounds. Their traditional diet consists primarily of seeds and whole grains, and they can travel far from their nest to locate food. Domestic pigeons reach sexual maturity at five to seven months of age. They mate throughout the year but predominantly in the summer months. The female pigeon lays two eggs each mating cycle, and the male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs to incubate them until they hatch.

The domestic pigeon is thought to be the first bird tamed by humans. The first domestic pigeons were bred about 6,000 years ago from the rock pigeon, which lived in the wild in Europe, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. The domestic pigeon was first brought to North America in the early 1600s. Today, American domestic pigeons thrive in urban areas, where they have become comfortable amid the bustle and noise of city life and have adapted their diet to survive on leftover ...