Chap. V- DESCRIPTION OF BREEDS. 1 53 



At this early age, the length of beak, the swollen skin over the 

 rather open nostrils, the gape of the month, and the size of the feet, 

 are the same in both; although these parts afterwards become 

 widely different. We thus see that embryology (as the comparison 

 of very young animals may perhaps be called) comes into play in 

 the classification of domestic varieties, as with species in a state of 

 nature. 



Fanciers, with some truth, compare the head and beak of the 

 Barb to that of a bullfinch. The Barb, if found in a state of nature 

 would certainly have been placed in a new genus formed for its 

 reception. The body is a little larger than that of the rock-pigeon, 

 but the beak is more than - 2 of an inch shorter ; although shorter, 

 it is both vertically and horizontally thicker. From the outward 

 flexure of the rami of the lower jaw, the mouth internally is very 

 broad, in the proportion of "6 to *4 to that of the rock-pigeon. The 

 whole head is broad. The skin over the nostril is swollen, but not 

 caruneulated, except slightly in first-rate birds when old ; whilst the 

 naked skin round the eye is broad and much caruneulated. It is 

 sometimes so much developed, that a bird belonging to Mr. Harrison 

 Weir could hardly see to pick up food from the ground. The 

 eyelids in one specimen were nearly twice as long as those of the 

 rock-pigeon. The feet are coarse and strong, but proportionally 

 rather shorter than in the rock-pigeon. The plumage is generally 

 dark and uniform. Barbs, in short, may be called short-beaked 

 Carriers, bearing the same relation to Carriers that the Tronfo of 

 Aldrovandi does to the common Bunt. 



Group III. 



This group is artificial, and includes a heterogeneous collec- 

 tion of distinct forms. It may be defined by the beak, in 

 well-characterized specimens of the several races, being 

 shorter than in the rock-pigeon, and by the skin round the 

 eyes not being much developed. 



Race V. — Fantails. 



Sub-race I. European Fantails (Pfauentauben ; trembleurs). 

 Tail expanded, directed upwards, formed of many feathers ; oil-gland 

 aborted ; body and beak rather short. 



The normal number of tail-feathers in the genus Columba is 12 ; 

 but Fantails have from only 12 (as has been asserted) up to, 

 according to MM. Boitard and Corbie, 42. I have counted in one 

 of my own birds 33, and at Calcutta Mr. Blyth 12 has counted in an 

 imperfect tail 34 feathers. In Madras, as I am informed by Sir W. 



M 'Annals and Mag. of Nat. History,' vol. xix., 1847, p. 105. 

 8 



