Origin of Species Variorum

→ as it seems to me, 1859 1860 1861 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ in 1859 1860 1861 1866

with the wild rock-pigeon in 1869 1872

→ with the wild rock-pigeon, 1859 1860 1861 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ of their structure; 1860 1861 1866

of their structure: 1859

OMIT 1869 1872

→ are 1861 1866 1869 1872

seem to me 1859 1860

→ and has a white croup 1861 1866

and has a white rump 1859 1860

with white loins; 1869

with white loins; but 1872

→ having it bluish); the 1859 1860 1861 1866

having this part bluish; the 1869

has this part bluish. The 1872

→ bases of the 1859 1860 1861 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ with white; the 1859 1860 1861 1866

at the base with white; the 1869

at the base with white. The 1872

→ or more distinct 1861 1866 1869 1872

distinct 1859 1860

argument

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 constitution, habits, voice, colouring, and in most parts of their structure, →with the wild rock-pigeon, yet are certainly highly abnormal in other

parts;

parts

→of their structure; we may look in vain

through

throughout

the whole great family of Columbidæ 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;

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-civilised

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 unknown. So many strange contingencies →are improbable in the highest degree.

Some facts in regard to the colouring of pigeons well deserve consideration. The rock-pigeon is of a slaty-blue, →and has a white croup

the

(the

Indian sub-species, C.

inter- media

intermedia

of Strickland, →having it bluish); the tail has a terminal dark bar, with the →bases of the outer feathers externally edged →with white; the wings have two black

bars;

bars.

bars:

Some

some

semi-domestic

breeds

breeds,

and some

~~apparently~~

apparently

truly wild

breeds

breeds,

have, besides the two black bars, the wings chequered with black. These several marks do not occur together in any other species of the whole family. Now, in every one of the domestic breeds, taking thoroughly well-bred birds, all the above marks, even to the white edging of the outer tail-feathers, sometimes concur perfectly developed. Moreover, when

two

....

birds belonging to two →or more distinct breeds are crossed,

neither

none

of which

are

blue or

has

have

any of the above-specified marks, the mongrel offspring are very