174 



DOMESTIC PIGEONS: 



Chap. V. 



In the rock-pigeon, and in several domestic breeds, the edges of the 

 lower jaw on each side come close up to the premaxillary bones, so 



u 





Fig. 26.— Skull of Runt, seen 

 from above, of natural size, 

 showing the reflexed margin 

 of the distal portion of the 

 lower jaw. 



Fig. 27. — Latend view of jaws, of natural size. 

 A. Rock pigeon. B. Short-laced Tumbler. C. 

 Bagadoiten Carrier. 



that no open space is left. The degree of 

 downward curvature of the distal half of 

 the lower jaw also differs to an extra- 

 ordinary degree in some breeds, as may be 

 seen in the drawings (fig. a) of the rock- 

 pigeon, (b) of the Short-faced Tumbler, 

 and (c) of the Bagadotten Carrier of Neu- 

 meister. In some Runts the symphysis of 

 the lower jaw is remarkably solid. No one 

 would readily have believed that jaws differing in the several 

 above-specified points so greatly could have belonged to the same 

 species. 



Vertebrae.— All the breeds have twelve cervical vertebrae. 36 But 

 in a Bussorah Carrier from India the twelfth vertebra carried a 

 small rib, a quarter of an inch in length, with a perfect double 

 articulation. 



The dorsal vertebrae are always eight. Tn the rock-pigeon all 

 eight bear ribs; the eight rib being very thin, and the seventh 

 having no process. In Pouters all the ribs are extremely broad, 

 eight bear ribs; the eighth rib being very thin and the seventh 

 having no process. In Pouters all the ribs are extremely broad, 

 and, in three out of four skeletons examined by me, the eighth rib 

 was twice or even thrice as broad as in the rock-pigeon ; and the 



36 



I am not sure that I have de- 

 signated the different kinds of vertebrae 

 correctly : but I observe that different 

 anatomists follow in this respect dif- 



ferent rules, and, as I use the same 

 terms in the comparison of all the 



skeletons, this, 

 signify. 



I hope, will net 



