168 PIGEON-MATCHES. [CHAP. v. 



we have Tr. bicincta and Tr. vernans ; Tr. Malabarica 

 and Tr. chloroptera; Turtur Chinensis and T. Suratensis; 

 T. meena and T. auritus, &c., &c., which might be re- 

 garded as local varieties of the same ; and we might 

 thus go on reducing the number of species ad infinitum, 

 with no useful definite result, but to the utter confusion 

 of all discriminative classification. However closely 

 races may resemble, if they present absolute and con- 

 stant differences, whether of size, proportions, or colour- 

 ing, and if they manifest no tendency to grade from one 

 to the other, except in cases of obvious intermixture, 

 we are justified in considering them as distinct and sepa- 

 rate ; and more especially if each, or either, has a wide 

 range of geographic distribution, without exhibiting any 

 climatal or local variation." 



If this bold and judicious dictum be applicable to 

 any family of birds, it assuredly is to the Columbidae ; 

 which, else, might be made to represent almost an un- 

 broken sliding-scale, from one extreme member of it to 

 the other. So we will now take advantage of the im- 

 pression made upon the reader, and leave him to think 

 over the matter quietly by himself. 



The bird now under notice is the species most 

 usually employed in the trials of skill called " Pigeon- 

 matches." Blue Rocks will do, but are not so easily 

 to be had : the low-priced mongrels of Fancy Pigeons 

 are objected to, as often affording by their colour an un- 

 fairly easy mark, and apt to be less bold and dashing in 

 their escape from the trap. The Dovehouse Pigeon, or 

 " Duffer," is the victim which has the most frequently 

 to run the gauntlet for its life. 



Pigeon-matches have been much carped at, and even 

 openly condemned, by unthinking persons, who do not 



