R. Staples-Browne 155 



Exp. 74. Blue, several white feathers $ 42 x Blue, several white 

 feathers ^ 43. 



These two birds, produced in the last experiment, were mated 

 together, and three young were raised from them. Of these one was 

 blue with a very few white feathers on the rump and thighs, one blue 

 with several white feathers like the parents, and one white. No traces 

 of chequering were observed on these birds. 



Carriers, Dragoons, Owls and Fantails used in Experiments. 



This series of experiments was commenced in 1910, and in only 

 one case has the F^ generation been raised as yet. The following birds 

 were obtained. 



Black Fantails. Some birds of this variety were obtained from 

 Mr Stopford of Tichraarsh Rectory, Thrapston, who informs me that 

 he has had his strain for over twenty years, during which time the 

 birds have bred true. They have been crossed with other strains from 

 time to time, but do they throw birds of any other colour, or birds 

 having white or any other than black feathers in their plumage ? 

 I have reason to believe that these are homozygous blacks. The colour 

 of the black in Fantails is duller and not so deep as that of some other 

 breeds of pigeons, e.g. Carriers. 



Dun Carriers. Two dun Carrier $ s were obtained from Mr C. F. 

 Bescoby of Fernleigh, Romford, a well-known breeder of this variety. 

 They were bred from the mating of Black $ x Dun j^, and they have 

 Black and Dun only in their ancestry ever since Mr Bescoby obtained 

 the strain. A dun ^ was also obtained from the late Mr Wiltshire's 

 strain, bred from two duns. It is believed that the parents of these 

 birds were also dun, but the more remote ancestry is unknown. 

 These birds are of a deep rich dun colour except the flight and tail 

 feathers which are lighter in shade \ 



Blue Dragoons. A pair of this variety has been obtained from 

 Mr Richard Woods of Mansfield. The (/* bird has been bred from 

 blues for two generations, and the $ for several generations. There is 



' Stress mast be laid on the fact that the rich deep dan coloixr fonnd in the Carrier is 

 not foand in the Owl. The dan colour in the latter variety is mach lighter in shade, and 

 answers to the description given below of the dan F^ type prodaced from the mating of 

 Black Fantail ? with Silver Owl j . There are therefore, apparently, two types of dan, a 

 dark and a light variety ; and also two types of silver, one of which has black bars and the 

 other dan bars. 



