166 



DOMESTIC PIGEONS. 



Chap. V. 



not all tumblers) nearly as prominent as that of the third dorsal vertebra • 

 and the two hypapophyses together tend to form an ossified arch. The 

 development of the arch, formed by the hypapophyses of the third and 

 fourth dorsal vertebrae, also varies considerably, as does the size of the 

 hypapophysis of the fifth vertebra. 



The rock-pigeon has twelve sacral vertebra; ; but these vary in number 

 relative size, and distinctness in the different breeds. In pouters with 

 their elongated bodies, there are thirteen or even fourteen, and, as we shall 

 immediately see, an additional number of caudal vertebrae. In runts and 

 carriers there is generally the proper number, namely twelve ; but in one 

 runt, and in the Bussorah carrier, there were only eleven. In tumblers 

 there are either eleven, twelve, or thirteen sacral vertebra. 



The caudal vertebras are seven in number in the rock-pigeon. In fantails 

 which have their tails so largely developed, there are either eight or nine' 

 and apparently in one case ten, and they are a little longer than in the 

 rock-pigeon, and their shape varies considerably. Pouters, also, have 

 eight or nine caudal vertebrae. I have seen eight in a nun and jacobin. 

 Tumblers, though such small birds, always have the normal number seven ■ 

 as have carriers, with one exception, in which there were only six. 



The following table will serve as a summary, and will show the most 

 remarkable deviations in the number of the vertebrae and ribs which I 

 have observed : — 







Pouter, 



Tumbler, 



Bussorah 







from Mr. Bult. 



Dutch Roller. 



Carrier. 



Cervical Vertebrae 



12 



12 



12 



12 



The 12th bore 

 a small rib. 



Dorsal Vertebrae . . 



8 



8 



8 



8 



„ Eibs .. 



8 



8 



7 



7 





The 6th Pair with 



The 6th and 7th 



The 6th and 7 th 



The 6th and 7th 





processes, the 7th 



pair with 



pair without 



pair without 





pair without a 



processes. 



processes. 



processes. 





process. 









Sacral Vertebrae . . 



12 



14 



11 



11 



Caudal Vertebrae . . 

 Total Vertebrae . . 



7 



8 or 9 



7 



7 



39 



42 or 43 



38 



38 



The pelvis differs very little in any breed. The anterior margin of the 

 ilium, however, is sometimes a little more equally rounded on both sides 

 than in the rock -pigeon. The ischium is also frequently rather more 

 elongated. The obturator-notch is sometimes, as in many tumblers, less 

 developed than in the rock-pigeon. The ridges on the ilium are very pro- 

 minent in most runts. 



In the bones of the extremities I could detect no difference, except in 

 their proportional lengths ; for instance, the metatarsus in a pouter was 

 1-65 inch, and in a short-faced tumbler only -95 in length; and this is a 

 greater difference than would naturally follow from their differently-sized 

 bodies ; but long legs in the pouter, and small feet in the tumbler, are selected 

 points. In some pouters the scapula is rather straighter, and in some 



