124 A NEW THEORY OF EVOLUTION. 



several breeds would, if found wild, be 

 classed as distinct species and even genera. 

 If it could be established on satisfactory 

 evidence that all the different breeds of 

 pigeons are descended from the rock-pigeon, 

 these specific variations in the skeleton of 

 the Pigeon family would be a strong argu- 

 ment in favour of Darwin's theory, and we 

 therefore seek with interest the evidence on 

 which the statement of common ancestry 

 is based. The result is disappointing, for 

 , we have been unable to find in any of 

 Darwin's writings, or indeed elsewhere, any 

 evidence, properly so called, of the common 

 ancestry of the Pigeon family, or even that 

 the rock-pigeon has ever been domesticated, 

 or that a new variety of pigeon, whose stock 

 was persistent, has ever been produced. 



The nearest approach to evidence that 

 the rock-pigeon is the common ancestor, is 

 the experience of Darwin himself in cross- 

 ing distinct breeds of domestic pigeons. 

 " I crossed," he says, " some white fantails, 

 which bred very true, with some black 

 barbs, and it so happens that blue 

 varieties of barbs are so rare that I never 

 heard of an instance in England, and the 

 mongrels were black, brown, and mottled. 

 I also crossed a barb with a spot, which is 



