THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 749.— November, 1903. 



THE HYBRIDIZATION OF COLUMBA PALUMBUS. 



By P. St. M. Podmore, F.R.G.S., M.A. (Camb.). 



(Plate VII.) 



The origin of species and their powers of hybridization are 

 subjects of profound interest to all students of zoology. In 

 the typical Lower Miocene beds of Allier and Puy-de-D6me 

 have been found an enormous number of ornitholites referring 

 to nearly fifty species, including Colymbo'ides, which may be 

 placed in the Colymbidse, and among existing genera — Anas, 

 Aquila, Bubo, Collocalia, and Columba, &c. To prove the con- 

 necting-links between the Colymbo'ides and the innumerable 

 varieties of domestic Pigeons and wild Doves distributed over 

 the globe would be an undertaking too gigantic for an ordinary 

 lifetime. 



Hybridization, so closely allied with evolution, is a study much 

 neglected, and yet of the greatest importance. Zoologists realize 

 this, and Prof. Newton remarked in a recent letter I received : 

 " The subject of hybridism is a most attractive one " ; and, again : 

 " We, however, know very little about animal hybrids, and I wish 

 more people would take up the subject." 



The tendency to distribute one's energies over too vast an area, 

 and the want of definite concentration, might account for much 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. VII., November, 1903. 2 I 



