| → leg and of the feet; 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| the leg and foot; 1872 |
|
| → and 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
| differs remarkably; as does 1859 1860 |
|
| → disposition, differ remarkably. 1861 1869 1872 |
| disposition. 1859 1860 |
| disposition, differ re- markably. 1866 |
|
| → place 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| in this case place 1872 |
|
| → might have called 1859 1860 1861 |
| would have called 1866 1869 |
| would call 1872 |
|
| → the differences are 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| are the differences 1872 |
|
|
primary wing and caudal feathers; the relative length of
and tail to each other and to the body; the relative length of
→leg and of the feet;
the number of scutellæ on the toes, the development of skin between the toes, are all points of structure which are variable. The period at which the perfect plumage is acquired varies, as does the state of the down with which the nestling birds are clothed when hatched. The shape and size of the eggs vary. The manner of
→and
in some breeds the voice and
→disposition, differ remarkably. Lastly, in certain breeds, the males and females have come to differ
a slight degree from each other. |
|
| Altogether at least a score of pigeons might be chosen,
if shown to an ornithologist, and he were told that they were wild birds, would
be ranked by him as well-defined species. Moreover, I do not believe that any ornithologist would
→place
the English carrier, the short-faced tumbler, the runt, the barb, pouter, and fantail in the same genus; more especially as in each of these breeds several truly-inherited sub-breeds, or
as he
→might have called
them, could be shown him. |
|
| Great as
→the differences are
between the breeds of
I am fully convinced that the common opinion of naturalists is correct, namely, that all
descended from the rock-pigeon (Columba livia), including under this term several geographical races or sub-species, which differ from each other in the most trifling respects. As several of the reasons which have led me to this belief are in some degree applicable in other cases, I will here briefly give them. If the several breeds are not varieties, and have not proceeded from the rock-pigeon, they must have descended from at least seven or eight aboriginal stocks; for it is impossible to make the present domestic
|
