174: 



DOMESTIC PIGEOXS 



Chap. V. 



In the rock-pigeon, and in several domestic breeds, the edges of the 

 lower jaw on each side come close up to the premaxillary bones, so 



Fig. 26.— S 'cull of Runt, seen 

 from above, of natural size, 

 showing the reflexed margin 

 of the distal portion of ihe 

 lower jaw. 



Fig. 27. —Lateral view of jaws, of natural size. 

 A. Rock-pigeon. B. Short-faced TumbltT. C. 

 Bagadoiten Carrier. 



that no open space is left. The degree of 

 downward curvature of the distal half of 

 the lower jaw also diners to an extra- 

 ordinary degree in some breeds, as may be 

 seen in the drawings (fig. a) of the rock- 

 pigeon, (b) of the Short-faced Tumbler, 

 and (c) of the Bagadotten Carrier of Neu- 

 meister. In some Emits the symphysis of 

 the lower jaw is remarkably solid. 3No one 

 would readily have believed that jaws differing in the several 

 above-spec hie. I points so greatly could have belonged to the i ame 

 species. 



Vertebras. — All the breeds have twelve cervical vertebra. 36 But 

 in a Bussorah Carrier from India the twelfth vertebra carried a 

 small rib, a quarter of an inch in length, with a perfect double 

 articulation. 



The dorsal vertebra are always eight. In the rock- pigeon all 

 eight bear ribs; the eight rib being" very thin, and the seventh 

 having no process. In Pouters all the ribs are extremely broad, 

 tight bear ribs; the eighth rib being very thin and the seventh 

 having no process. In" Pouters all the ribs a-e extremely broad, 

 and, in three out of four skeletons examined by me, the eighth rib 

 was twice or even thrice as broad as in the rock pigeon; and the 



36 I am not sure that I have de- 

 signated the d i fferent kinds of vertebra? 

 correctly : but I observe that different 

 anatomists follow in thi- respect dif- 



ferent rules, and, as I use the same 

 terms in the comparison of all the 

 skeletons, this, I hope, will not 

 signify. 



