24 
DOMESTIC PIGEONS. 
Chap. I. 
even on several of the smaller British islets, or on the 
shores of the Mediterranean. Hence the supposed ex¬ 
termination of so many species having similar habits 
with the rock-pigeon seems to me a very rash assump¬ 
tion. Moreover, the several above-named domesticated 
breeds have been transported to all parts of the world, 
and, therefore, some of them must have been carried 
back again into their native country; but not one has 
ever become wild or feral, though the dovecot-pigeon, 
which is the rock-pigeon in a very slightly altered state? 
has become feral in several places. Again, all recent 
experience shows that it is most difficult to get any wild 
animal to breed freely under domestication ; yet on the 
hypothesis of the multiple origin of our pigeons, it must 
be assumed that at least seven or eight species were so 
thoroughly domesticated in ancient times by half-civi¬ 
lized man, as to be quite prolific under confinement. 
An argument, as it seems to me, of great weight, and 
applicable in" several other cases, is, that the above- 
specified breeds, though agreeing generally in constitu¬ 
tion, habits, voice, colouring, and in most parts of their 
structure, with the wild rock-pigeon, yet are certainly 
highly abnormal in other parts of their structure; we 
may look in vain throughout the whole great family of 
Columbidae for a beak like that of the English carrier, 
or that of the short-faced tumbler, or barb ; for reversed 
feathers like those of the Jacobin; for a crop like that 
of the pouter; for tail-feathers like those of the fantail. 
Hence it must be assumed not only that half-civilized 
man succeeded in thoroughly domesticating several 
species, but that he intentionally or by chance picked 
out extraordinarily abnormal species; and further, that 
these very species have since all become extinct or un¬ 
known. So many strange contingencies seem to me 
improbable in the highest degree. 
