on Some Turtle Dove Hybrids and their Fertility. 193


smaller than the majority of Barbary eggs; in fact they are not

much larger than the egg laid by the Necklace hen. But one

can hardly establish a relationship on this ground, and in hybrid

breeding one must be absolutely sure of one’s facts.


The result of the Union, between the first-mentioned

bird (the Turtle x Barbary hybrid) and the supposed hybrid, was

five young from three nests, all of which were reared, though

three of them did not reach maturity. These young all

approached the Barbary dove in colour, though some were of a

darker shade than others. The two that lived are a cock and lieu ;

the cock in shape favours the Barbary. At a little distance

he appears of the usual plain fawn colour, but, when closely

examined, the feathers of the scapular and interscapular region

are found to be bordered at their tips with a lighter shade of

fawn, the centre portion being of a slightly greyer shade.

Thus the strong developed “ lacing ” of the wild Turtle dove

has been transmitted to the £-bred offspring. But the most

noticeable feature lies in the black ring on the neck, which,

instead of being a plain broad black collar, has more the

appearance of an irregular black patch on each side of the neck,

almost separated at the back where the black feathers are tipped

with pale buff. His notes hardly differ from those of the pure

Barb ary.


In 1902 this bird paired with his mother. The first two

nests did not produce any result, probably owing to the male

bird not being fully developed, as he was rather delicate when

young. However in the third nest two young were hatched

and reared, which were practically pure Barbary doves in

appearance. I believe they were both hens.


The hen (| Turtle x £ Barbary) differs from her brother

in several points. She is a good deal smaller, and I think

distinctly resembles the wild Turtle dove in shape, but is more

Barbary like in colour. The scapulars and smaller wing-coverts

are more uniform, but are narrowly tipped with buff, which gives

the bird a slightly “mealy” look; the black collar is more

regular, but, even in her, some of the feathers at the back are

narrowly edged with buffish white. Her notes approach those of



