RESEARCH SEMINAR. 3 i 5 



July 29. Hybrids from Wild Species of Pigeons, Crossed 

 inter se and with Domestic Races. By C. O. WHITMAN. 

 The species thus far employed with some success in crossing- 

 are the following : 



FERAL SPECIES : 



1. Oriental turtle (Tnrtnr oricntalis). 



2. European turtle (Tnrtnr turtnr*). 



3. Chinese turtle (Spilopclia 1 chinensis}. 



4. Surat turtle (S. tigrina). 



5. Blond ring dove (Strcptopdicr risoria). 



6. White ring dove (S. alba). 



7. Oriental ring dove (S. torqnata). 



8. Red ring dove (S. /in mil is}. 



9. Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorins). 



10. Mourning dove (Zenaidnra carolinensis). 



1 1. White- winged pigeon (Melopelia Icncoptcrd). 



12. Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus). 



13. Guinea pigeon (Columba guinea). 

 DOMESTIC RACES : 



14. Homer (Columba tabcllarid). 



15. Fantail (Columba laticandd). 



1 6. Tumbler (Columba gyrans). 



17. Archangel (Coliunba illyrica). 



1 8. Mondain (Colinnba adinistd). 



19. Chequered rock (Columba affinis domesticd). 



20. Owl-rock hybrid (C. lurbata x C. livia). 



The more important hybrids and their parent species were 

 exhibited, and the importance of known ancestry, for definite re- 

 sults, was clearly demonstrated. 



With a few exceptions, the hybrids were remarkably close 

 intermediates. Reciprocal crosses gave like hybrids. 



Several series of fertile hybrids have been obtained. The 

 most remarkable case was a male hybrid between a male 

 chequered rock pigeon (C. affinis domestica) and a female oriental 



1 Sundev, Math. Nat. Av. disp. Tent., p. 100, 1872. The species 1-8 are usually 

 included in the genus Turtiir. The Streptopelias and Spilopelias are both sufficiently 

 distinct for generic rank, and it is convenient to deal with them ae genera. 



2 Bp.-Comsp. Av., II., p. 63, 1854. 



