COLOUR INHERITANCE IN PIGEONS. 6 1 9 



if some factor exists which has the power to influence but not to 

 alter the gametic inheritance. 



The Mendelian conclusions reached in this paper may be briefly 

 summed up as follows : — 



(1) Silver is dilute Blue. 



(2) Blue is dominant to Silver. 



(3) Chequering is dominant to its absence (i. e. a Self -colour). 



(4) Grizzling is dominant to its absence (i. e. a Self-colour). 



(5) Grizzling is dominant to Chequering ; the impure dominants 



may however sometimes be easily distinguished. 



(6) A Mealy is a Grizzled bird with the White wholly or 



partially replaced by Red. 



(7) Red in a Mealy is apparently dominant to White, and 



hence a Mealy is dominant to a Gi^izzle. 



(8) White and Grizzling when they have met combine together 



and have a common inheritance. 



(9) Red combines with Grizzling in the same way as does White. 



EXPLANATION OP THE PLATES. 



Plate XXIII. 



Fig. 1. Blue Pigeon. 



2. Silvei' Pigeon. 



3. Chequered Pigeon. 



Plate XXIV. 



Fig. 1. Dark Grizzled Pigeon. 



2. White Grizzled Pigeon. 



3. Grizzle and Chequer (Almond Grizzle) Pigeon— in nest feathering, 



showing adult feathers appearing on the wing-coverts. (Note chequerin"g' 

 on the adult wing-coverts.) 



Plate XXV. 

 Fig. 1. Dark Mealy Pigeon. 



2. Light Mealy Pigeon. 



3. White Mealy Pigeon. (Tricolor.) 



Plate XXVI. 

 Feathers showing details of pattern-markings. 



Fig. 1. Chequered feather. 



2. Dark Grizzled feather. 



3. Grizzle-Chequer feather, adult plumage, as shown in dark wing-coverts 



PI. XXIV. tig. 3. ° ' 



4. White Grizzled feather. 



5. Light Mealy feather. (Note white, red, and blue in some barbs.) 



6. Dark Mealy feather. (Note absence of white.) 



