CnAP. I. DOMESTIC VARIETIES. 33 



experimented for this object, and failed. The oflspriii^v from 

 the first cross between two pure breeds is tolerably and some- 

 times (as I have found with pip^eons) extremely uniform, and 

 every thing seems simple enouji-h ; but when these mongrels 

 are crossed one "with another for several generations, hardly 

 two of them are alike ; and then the extreme dilEculty of the 

 task becomes apparent. Certainly, a breed intermediate be- 

 tween tico very distinct breeds could not be got without ex- 

 treme care and long-continued selection ; nor can I find a case 

 on record of a permanent race having been thus formed. 



Breeds of the Domestic Pigeon, their Differences and Origin. 



Belie\ing that it is alwa^'S best to study some special group, 

 I have, after deliberation, taken up domestic pigeons. I have 

 kept every breed whieli I could purchase or obtain, and have 

 lieen most kindly fav(^red with skins from several quarters of 

 the world, more especially by the Hon. W. Elliot from India, 

 and by the Hon. C. Murray from Persia. Many treatises in 

 different languages have been published on pigeons, and some 

 of them are very important, as being of considerable antiquity. 

 I have associated witli several eminent fanciers, and have been 

 permitted to join two of the London Pigeon Clubs. The diver- 

 sity of the breeds is something astonishing. Compare the Eng- 

 lish carrier and the short-faced tumbler, and see the Avonderful 

 difference in tlieir beaks, entailing corresponding differences in 

 tlieir skulls. The carrier, more especially the male bird, is also 

 remarlvable from the wonderful development of the caruncu- 

 lated skin about the head; and this is accompanied by greatly- 

 elongated eyelids, very large external orifices to the nostrils, 

 and a wide gape of mouth. The short-faced tumbler has a 

 b(>ak in outline almost like that of a finch; and the common 

 tuin])ler has the singular inherited habit of flying at a great 

 height in a compact flock, and tumbling in the air head over 

 heels. The runt is a bird of great size, with long, massive beak 

 and large feet ; some of tlie sub-ljreeds of runts have very long 

 necks, others very long Avings and tails, others singularly short 

 tails. The barb is allied to the carrier, but, instead of a long 

 beak, has a very short and broad one. The ])outer has a much- 

 elongated body, wings, and legs ; and its enormously devel- 

 oped crop, which it glories in inllating, may well excite aston- 

 ishment and even laughter. The turbit has a very short and 

 conical beak, with a line of reversed feathers down the breast; 



