1868.] 355 [Harris. 



Rotcli, William Thomas, Edward C. Pickering and James C. 

 Merrill, Jr. of Boston, Dr. Herrmann Hagen of Cambridge, 

 Dr. Edward R. Cogswell of Cambridgeport, Dr. Edward 

 Gilchrist, U. S. N., of Chelsea, and PW. J. D. Runkle of 

 Brookline. 



The following paper was read : — 

 The Structure, Flight and Habits of the different 



VARIETIES OF THE DOMESTICATED PiGEON. By EdWARD 

 DOUBLEDAY HARRIS OF CAMBRIDGE. 



It is proposed in the following pages to notice in a very brief and 

 cursory manner a few of the many varieties of domesticated pigeons 

 known in this country and abroad, and at the same time to draw 

 attention to their very peculiar and interesting habits. 



For the sake of convenience in handling the subject. I will divide 

 the different varieties of which I shall speak, into five groups — dlstin- 

 guislicd from each other by strongly defined and peculiar character- 

 istics. They are : — 



1. The Tumblers, which may be further subdivided into three 

 groups, the common air tumbler, the so-called ground tumbler, and 

 the roller. 



2. The Fantails, perhaps, through the common white variety, better 

 known than the others. 



3. The Pouters. 



4. The Carriers, — and 



5. The so-called Toys, in great variety and which I shall further 

 subdivide later. 



Before introducing the several groups to your notice In anything 

 more than this general manner — a few remarks respecting the colors 

 common In the different varieties may not be amiss. The cultivated 

 colors, If I may employ such a term, are five ; all others are modifi- 

 cations or blendings of these. They are hlack, blue, red, yelloio and 

 wldte. 



The black, in Its perfection, is a perfect, intense black, equal to that 

 of the crow. The blue is a light slate color, very fair examples being 

 seen constantly In the case of our common street pigeons. In perfection 

 there should be no white, and the wings should be barred with black. 

 The red may be better described as a cinnamon, or more exactly as a 

 deep bay. The yellow Is a peculiar color — I can liken to it only the 

 inslilc sliell of the English almond, and, in fact, this color in the 

 United States is commonly knoAvn among bird fanciers as almond. 

 The two coloi?, red and yellow, as I have described them, are by no 



