142 On the Inheritance of Colour in Pigeons 



Non-chequered blues. 

 Type I. Blue-rumped Rock Dove. 



A description of this type has already been given in the section on 

 the mating together of Lincolnshire Rock Doves. 



Type II. Blue with very few white feathers. (Blue, v.f. w.f.) 

 These birds resembled the preceding type, except for the addition 

 of a very little white. This was confined chiefly to the rump, vent and 

 thighs. The amount on the rump did not exceed 10 feathers, as far as 

 could be judged. In one specimen a very few white feathers appeared 

 over the beak. In another there was one white primary wing feather, 

 and six white feathers on the rump. These latter did not reappear 

 after the moult, leaving a blue bird with only one white feather in the 

 wing. Another bird had one white primary and two white tertiaries 

 in addition to a little white on the rump, vent and thighs. In every 

 case the amount of white feathers was considered to be less than that 

 found on the rump of a typical G. livia. 



Type III. Typical G. livia. 



The birds classed under this head resembled very closely the Rock 

 Dove. The amount of white on the rump did not appear in all cases 

 to be quite so extensive, but no white feathers were seen elsewhere. 

 In one specimen two blue feathers were seen on the white rump. 



Type IV. Blues with several white feathers. (Blue much wh.) 

 In these birds the white was greatly in excess of that found in 

 G. livia. A mottled appearance was generally obtained. In all cases 

 white feathers were present on the rump, though not necessarily to the 

 extent found in the Rock Dove, also on the vent and thighs. In about 

 half the specimens raised this white was continued on to the abdomen. 

 With two exceptions, white feathers occurred on the head, varying in 

 amount and exact situation, but usually on the occiput. In most cases 

 this white was continued down the neck, and occasionally even on to 

 the breast. With one exception, all these birds had some white flight 

 feathers, and frequently all the flight feathers were white. The bastard 

 wings and carpal joints were often white. Occasionally also some of 

 the under tail coverts, and in one case three white tail feathers were 

 noticed. The wing coverts and back were generally free from white. 

 The amount of white varied considerably, and the distinction between 

 some of these specimens having less white and the birds described as 

 belonging to Type II was not very sharp. 



