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Hybrid Pigeons.



In January, 1916, two eggs were laid, but the cold prevented

them from being hatched; in March, however, a young bird was

reared, and another in May.


In short, these pigeons have never ceased to nest for over a

year, and I have at present five hybrids, three of which are adults.

Each clutch has two eggs, but only one young one has hatched at a

time.


The hybrids have the form and the carriage of C. speciosa,

with the grey beak and'legs of C. maculosa. In colour, they are

intermediate with those of their parents; a uniform grey-brown,

without a trace of the white spots on the wings of the mother; but

the markings of the male bird— i.e. of the father—are represented

by some speckled markings at the back of the neck, which however

do not continue like his on the front of the neck and the breast.


These speckles are of a clear yellow on a deep grey.


The young birds are more handsome than the pure-bred

C. maculosa, but are far from attaining to the beauty of

C. speciosa. My intention is to mate one of these young female

hybrids with its father next year, in order to obtain some birds

which will more resemble the latter. I have every reason to believe

that the hybrids will be prove fertile.


These pigeons are very hardy ; they pass the winter in an

open-air aviary, communicating with a compartment of the heated

house, into which they can enter at will. They have never appeared

to suffer from the cold. When it was freezing the parents brooded

their eggs under a pent house in the outside aviary.


Their food is exclusively composed of wheat and millet.


% * -n- *


One takes these birds to be Chloroenas {or Columba) speciosa,

the “ fair ” pigeon (as it may be styled in English), which hails from

Mexico and is found through Central America to Columbia, Guiana,

Brazil, and Peru.


The first example exhibited in the London Zoological Gardens

was in 1868, a second being added in 1871, and five others in

1876, etc.: — Chloroenas (or Cohunba) maculosa, the spot-winged

pigeon, inhabits Paraguay, Argentine, and Patagonia.


In 1870, the first examples were exhibited at the London

Zoological Gardens. A good many have been bred there.



