BISET OR WILD ROCK- PIGEON. 153 



or kept in captivity ; in the cross between the phea- 

 sant and common fowl, &c. But in all these in- 

 stances, the progeny are invariably mules, and inca- 

 pable of further production ; for although they may 

 exhibit the passions natural to the sexes, and the fe- 

 male may even produce eggs, these, with every care, 

 are always found addled, and incapable of being 

 hatched. Such, we may add, is the case with hy- 

 brids of some of the crosses themselves ; for the 

 bastard produce of the common wild turtle (Turtur 

 communis) with the turtle of the aviary (Turtur ri- 

 soria), has been proved, by frequent experiment, to 

 be barren *, although the two species from whence 

 it originates appear to be closely allied, and a mixed 

 breed is easily procured ; and such, we have no he- 

 sitation in saying, would be the event, if a cross 

 could be obtained between the common pigeon and 

 the ring-pigeon, the wood-pigeon, or any other 

 species. 



* In the history of the " Pigeons de Voliere," by MM. 

 Boitard and Corbie*, under the head of the "Turterelle des 

 Bois," these authors mention the fact of the cross-breed 

 between it and the Tourterelle a collier, and the sterility of 

 the offspring. " Le me'tis," they add, " s'accouplent entre 

 eux, ou avec des individus a collier ou des bois: ils se 

 caressent avec la meme ardeur, pondent et couvent leur 

 oeufs avec la meme solicitude, et cependant ces ceufs 

 n'clorent jamais, sans doute faute de germe. Cette ex- 

 prience faite par Mauduyt, par Vieillot, et avec une es- 

 pece d'obstination par mon collaborates M. Corbie', a tou- 

 jours eu le meme resultat." 



