70 



INHERITANCE, FERTILITY, AND SEX IN PIGEONS. 



nearly all, males; for example, 7 of the 8 birds listed as dark in table 47 proved 

 to be males; the 3 birds there listed as of light color were females; but 1 female 

 was stated to be of dark color. The data are incomplete, but it would seem 

 that in this cross an occasional female may exhibit the dark color which is shown 

 by all of the males. The light-colored females are not as light-colored as is the 

 blond-ring parent; but as may be seen in pi. 12, the color, the color-pattern, and 

 particularly the neck-mark, all afford 'evidence of the strong influence of the 

 Japanese parent. 



TEXT-FICCKE 1. Adult Streptopetia alba X Ttirlur orietitalin hybrids male and female (brother and sister; sec 



table 42, under 7 and 5). 



The white bird is the female; the dark is the male. The colors contrast strongly and are sex-limited in inheritance. 



In a cross of Japanese males and blond ring females the relation of sex and 

 color in the offspring is not quite clear. It is certain that all of the young are 

 relatively dark in color. A male of this series is reproduced in pi. 13. The living 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 12. 



Adult male Streptopelia risoriax Turtur orientalis hybrid (1). From egg 4/23/04 (table 47). Nine- 

 tenths natural size. Hayashi del., May, 1905. 



Fig. A.x 1. General coloration and characteristics of the entire bird. 



About a dozen filoplinnes are seen on the nook-spot often one to each of the colored feathers. One plucked 



feather measured 13 mm. in length, its filoplume 14 mm. The latter consists of a slender hair-like shaft, arising close 



the shaft of the feather and bearing at its tip two, three, or four fine diverging barbs (?). Each barb bears 



irregular short barbules. The whole is white hence conspicuous on a black background. These filoplumes are 



single one for each feather; a few are found outside the spot, but only for a short distance. 



Fig. B. X 2. One feather from right side of nock-mark 

 Fig. C. X 4. Filoplumes of above feather further enlarged. 



