BISET OR WILD ROCK-PIGEON. 
153 
or kept in captivity ; in the cross between the phea- 
sant and common fowl, &c. But in all these in- 
stances, the progeny are invariably mules, and inca- 
pable of further production ; for although they may 
exhibit the passions natural to the sexes, and the fe- 
male may even produce eggs, these, with every care, 
are always found addlcil, and incapable of being 
hatched. Such, we may add, is the case with hy- 
brids of some of the crosses themselves ; for the 
bastard produce of the common wild turtle (Turtur 
communis) with the turtle of the aviaiy (Turtur ri- 
soria), has been proved, by frequent experiment, to 
be barren •, although the two species from whence 
it originates appear to be closely allied, and a mixed 
breed is easily procured ; and such, we have no he- 
sitation in saying, would be the event, if a cross 
could be obtained between the common pigeon and 
the ring-pigeon, the wood-pigeon, or any other 
species. 
• In the history of the “ Pigeons de Volierc,” by MM. 
Boitard and Corbid, under the head of the “Turterelle des 
Bois,” these authors mention the fact of the cross-breed 
between it and the Taurterelle d collier, and the sterility of 
the offspring. “ Le mdtis," they add, “ s’accouplent entre 
eux, ou avec des individus ii .collier on des bois: ils se 
caressent avec la mdme ardetir, pondent et convent leur 
osufs avec la mSme solicitude, ct cependant ces oeuft 
n'dclorent jamais, sans donte faute de germe. Cette ex- 
pdrience faite par Manduyt, par Vieillot, et avec une es- 
pece d’obstination par mon collaborateur M. Corbid, a tou- 
jours eu le meme resultat.” 
