88 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIED LIFE 



tions, the domesticated bird retained few or no 

 color markings which might confound it with 

 its wild ancestor, but Darwin was used to obstacles 

 of that sort and did not despair of obtaining 

 proof. He first crossed a white fantail with a 

 black barb, and another black barb with a white 

 ibird with a red spot on its forehead and a red- 

 dish tail. The offspring of these two crosses were 

 then crossed between themselves, and the result- 

 ing birds not only resembled rock doves, but 

 were rock doves so far as any analyst could tell. 

 Darwin had proved his point and fixed the an- 

 cestry of the domestic form. 



Domestic Breeds 



With the average person a mention of the word 

 " pigeon " is generally attended by two reacting 

 thoughts: messages and food. As a matter of 

 fact, the bird in its present status in civilization 

 is not a food product of great economic value. 

 It also has gone out of fashion as a means of 

 transporting messages since the invention of the 

 telegraph, save only in times of war, when it still 

 plays an important part. Its chief popularity is 

 now based on performance as a skilful and speedy 

 flier, together with the decorative value of its 

 fancy varieties. Thus the missions of the 

 domestic pigeon are, or have been, four: (1) 



