. iv.] TEMMINCK'S NOTIONS. 107 



own experience or observations confirm this remark. 

 It is just as distinct, and no more so, as the other 

 domestic breeds. Whatever right they may be ad- 

 judged to have to specific honours, the Turbit also has, 

 but no greater. 



Temminck complains of the difficulties which ama- 

 teurs experience in making them propagate with other 

 races supposed to be derived from the Biset ; but two 

 brown-shouldered hen Turbits in my possession have 

 paired and bred, one with an Owl (Pigeon) the other 

 with a Rock Dove, or Biset itself. In the former 

 case, the young mostly resembled one the male and 

 the other the female parent, with a few foul feathers on 

 each ; in the second case the young resembled the male 

 parent, or Rock Dove, with scarcely a trace of the ma- 

 ternal plumage. Instances sometimes occur of sterile 

 males among Turbits ; a fact which may have led Tem- 

 minck to suppose that these birds entertain some general 

 aversion to the females of other breeds ; but like cases 

 of infecundity occur with China Ganders and even with 

 Turkey Cocks. 



Buffon says of the Pigeon Cravate, or Turbit, that it 

 is scarcely larger than a Turtle, and that by pairing 

 them, hybrids are produced, a statement which is 

 quoted by Temminck. But in one very important 

 point it differs from the Turtle ; its time of incubation 

 is the same as that of other domestic Pigeons, whereas 

 the Collared Turtle at least hatches in a much shorter 

 period. 



According to the Treatise, " This Pigeon is called 

 by the Dutch Cort-beke, or Short-bill, on account of 

 the shortness of its beak; but how it came by the 



