On Some Turtle Dove Hybrids and their Fertility. 191


not get a sufficient supply of the right sort of food, and do not

reach the size of the wild-bred bird.


I am now anxiously looking out for another male Bustard,

bnt I fear it may be difficult to replace my old favourite.



ON SOME TURTLE DOVE HYBRIDS AND THEIR


FERTILITY.


By T. H. Newman, F.Z.S.


The subject of hybrid birds is one which has from very

early times received a good deal of attention from aviculturists ;

and till quite recently it was almost universally believed that

all hybrids, with the exception perhaps of certain crosses among

the gamebirds and ducks, were “mules,” that is, were incapable

of reproduction. But it has now been proved that numerous

hybrids in many different orders are quite fertile. Very much,

however, yet remains to be found out, and a wide field lies open

to any one who will explore its unknown mysteries. In the

meantime, it may be considered of sufficient interest to place on

record a few results, obtained from certain Turtle dove hybrids,

from the beginning of 1901 to the present time.


The genus Turtur is a large one, containing some thirty

species, and has been divided by Count Salvadori, in his

Catalogue, into five subgenera, all of which, nevertheless, appear

to be very closely allied. The sub-divisions have been made

chiefly from the arrangement or form of the neck feathers ; this

being the special badge of the Turtle doves. I mention these

divisions, as four out of the five subgenera are included among

my hybrids.


In March, 190r, I procured a fine male of the, by no

means rare, cross between a male wild English Turtle dove*

(Turtur turtur) and a female domestic Barbary Turtle dove

(T. risorius ). A very brief description of this bird will suffice,

as this hybrid is well known. In shape and general appearance

it approached its wild parent: the scapulars showing decided



* The nomenclature used is that of the Cat. Birds Brit. Mr/s. Vol.XXI.



