20 DOMESTIC PIGEONS. 



the rock-pigeon seems a very rash assumption. Moreover, 

 the several above-named domesticated breeds have been 

 transported to all parts of the world, and, therefore, some 

 of them must have been carried back again into their native 

 country ; but not one has become wild or feral, though the 

 dovecot-pigeon, which is the rock-pigeon in a very slightly 

 altered state, has become feral in several places. Again, all 

 •ecent experience shows that it is difficult to get wild 

 urimals to breed freely under domestication; yet on the 

 iiypothesis of the multiple origin of our pigeons, it must be 

 assumed that at least seven or eight species were so thor- 

 oughly domesticated in ancient times by half-civilized man 

 as to be quite prolific under confinement. 



An argument of great weight, and applicable in several 

 other cases, is, that the above-specified breeds, though agree- 

 ing generally with the wild rock-pigeon in constitution, 

 habits, voice, coloring, and in most parts of their structure, 

 yet are certainly highly abnormal in other parts ; we may 

 look in vain through the whole great family of Columbidae 

 for a beak like that of the English carrier, or that of the 

 short-faced tumbler, or barb ; for reversed feathers like those 

 of the Jacobin; for a crop like that of the pouter; for tail- 

 feathers like those of the fantail. Hence it must be assumed, 

 not only that half-civilized man succeeded in thoroughly 

 domesticating several species, but that he intentionally or 

 by chance picked out extraordinarily abnormal species ; and 

 further, that these very species have since all become ex- 

 tinct or unknown. So many strange contingencies are 

 improbable in the highest degree. 



Some facts in regard to the coloring of pigeons well 

 deserve consideration. The rock-pigeon is of a slaty-blue, 

 with white loins ; but the Indian sub-species, C. intermedia 

 of Strickland, has this part bluish. The tail has a terminal 

 dark bar, with the outer feathers externally edged at the 

 base with white. The wings have two black bars. Some 

 semi-domestic breeds, and some truly wild breeds, have, 

 besides the two black bars, the wings checkered with black. 

 These several marks do not occur together in any other 

 species of the whole family. Now, in every one of the 

 domestic breeds, taking thoroughly well-bred birds, all the 

 above marks, even to the white edging of the outer tail- 

 feathers, sometimes concur perfectly developed. Moreover, 

 when birds belonging to two or more distinct breeds are 

 crossed, none of which are blue or have any of the above- 



