L'L'II INHERITANCE, FERTILITY, AND SEX IN PIGEONS. 



Now, when the blond ring (St. risoria) is crossed with a Chinese red ring (St. 

 humilis) the hybrids obtained are intermediates of the two parent species. One of 

 these hybrids, an adult male, is figured in pi. 22, a female in Juvenal plumage also 

 in pi. 22. Such hybrids are very measurably darker than risoria and lighter than 

 humilis. They tend, too, to develop a little of the white edging or margin to the 

 upper and lower limits of the neck-mark; this is towards risoria. In addition, 

 these hybrids show a differentiation of color in the male and female. 12 These hybrids 

 are fertile and give offspring like themselves. One of the offspring of a pair of such 

 hybrids (an adult male) has been shown in pi. 23. The same bird shown in Juvenal 

 plumage (in pi. 23) will indicate the persistence of the blended body-color in the 

 second-generation hybrids. One of the Fi hybrids of the risoria x humilis cross 

 was mated back to a male risoria. The result, so far as the neck-mark of the juvenal 

 plumage of this latter hybrid is concerned, is recorded in text-fig. 9. The color has 

 there made its appearance perhaps more slowly than it does in the humilis parent, 

 which now represents but one-fourth of the hybrid's parentage. 



When we cross the Japanese turtle-dove (female) with the common pigeon we 

 invariably get a bird that has more gray and less red than the Japanese parent. 

 The general characteristics of T. orientalis have already been shown in pi. 1. The 



12 The females seem to be lighter, the males darker (see Chapter XIII). The stenographic report of the remarks 

 at this point is obviously incomplete. -EDITOR. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 36. 

 Neck-marks of common turtle-dove of Europe, Turtur turtur. 



Fig. 1. Adult male (?) T. turtur. X 2. Hayashi del., Sept, 1902. 



Ilnlii/nl: Western Palearctic Region in summer. In winter as far south as Shoa in Africa and as far east as Yarkand 

 in Asia. Specimen received from Dover, England, 1902. 



Very carefully drawn, giving every feather and following the natural form and arrangement. There are three 

 main rows, of which the middle one (fourth) is the center. Two more above and one below show more or less differ- 

 entiation. Eight dark feathers seen in second, -fourth, and fifth rows; nine in the third, hut ninth is not visible, except 

 I iv spreading feathers a little. The neck has to be extended somewhat to show black in more than 3 rows. 



Figs. 2-9 are of first and last feather of 4 rows (2 to 5 counting upward); right side. 



Fig. 2. First of fifth row. A short, gray spot on the hind web; tip pale ashy or grayish-white. 



Fig. 3. Eighth of fifth row. Two weak equal dark gray spots; tip of same color with neck. 



Fig. 4. First of fourth row. Black on both sides, but more behind; tip incomplete, pale gray, and sharply cut. 



Fig. 5. Eighth of fourth row. Black about equal on two sides; tip pale gray, passing to reddish ; also longer barbs. 



Fig. <>. First of third row. Blackish hind-half; tip pale gray, incomplete behind, sharp cut. 



Fig. 7. Ninth of third row. Black and gray in front, black behind, tip pale gray with some vinous or red, and 

 more sharp in front than behind. 



Fig. 8. First of second row. Weaker black; the front web vinous gray. No sharp tip except on hind web; tip 

 pale vinous gray. 



Fig.!). Fifth of second row. Very weak black on hind web. 



Fig. 10. Adult T. turtur, from Dover, 1902. X 2. Hayashi del., July 1902. 



lien- we see only three black rows with a lower one showing a touch of dark when feathers are spread a little. 

 The upper (fifth) row has impure light tips, becoming more and more like neck-feathers in the mid-back region. 



Fig. 11. The lowest degree of differentiation (smallest spot) found in a dozen turtle-doves from 

 Dover, 1902. There are really only two well-marked rows; no tips normally differentiated, 

 all showing more or less of the general color of the neck. The third row usuall}' shows 

 little or none of the black, and the upper row none at all except when spread out. 



Fig. 12. X 3. The middle black row (third) is plainly the center. The fourth feather is here shown. 



Fig. 13. X3. First feather of third row (right) has black, plain behind; the tip shortened, pale 

 grayish-white. 



The seven Ih feather of third row (not separately figured) has less white-gray behind than in front; black on both 

 sides. 



