R. Staples-Brownb 141 



White pigeons used in these crosses. 



The whites used were either Fantails or extracted whites from the 

 Barb-Fantail matings. In ray first report the origin of the strain of 

 Fantails used is given in detail, and a pedigree of the actual birds 

 appended. The two white Fantails used in the present crosses (40 ? 

 and 23 (^) will be found in the pedigree. The extracted whites were 

 bred as follows : 



37 </• from Barb-Fantail, Exp. 16. 



50 (^ from a red in F, x White. (See Exp. d. in note on page 70 of 

 Barb-Fantail Report.) 



53 f^ from Black w.f. x White. The black w.f. being bred from the 

 mating of Red x White. (Exp. e. in note.) 



All the other whites used in these matings were raised in the 

 present series of experiments. 



Types of birds produced in the Rock-Fantail Cross. 



The offspring of these crosses fall naturally into three very distinct 

 classes, viz., blues, silvers and whites. The coloured birds are further 

 classed as chequered or non-chequered, and as having no white feathers 

 or some white feathers, this latter type being further subdivisible, as 

 stated above. 



The classification of birds into chequered and non-chequered types 

 is complicated by the occurrence of five birds which appear to be 

 intermediates. These show a slight darkening of some of the lower 

 wing coverts, which is not noticeable unless the bird is caught. They 

 occurred in the experiments as follows : 



In Exp. 60 an intermediate silver. 



„ 64 „ „ blue. 



„ 73 two „ blues. 



These two latter birds were mated together in Exp. 74. Only two 

 blue birds were produced from them, neither of which showed any trace 

 of chequering. It is however quite possible that chequers would have 

 been produced had more young been raised. No other matings of these 

 birds have been made. 



Pending, further investigation, these birds are provisionally classed 

 as non-chequers, but a note is appended to each experiment in which 

 they occurred. 



Descriptions of the several types follow : 



