Origin of Species Variorum

→ in these two cases, and in some but not in all other cases, an almost perfect series 1866 1869

an almost perfect series 1859 1860 1861

OMIT 1872

→ extremes of structure. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

and the rock pigeon, an almost perfect series; so we can in some other cases, but not with all the breeds. 1872

→ for 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

are in each eminently variable, for 1872

→ are in each breed eminently variable; 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

characters from the rock-pigeon, yet

that, by

comparing the several sub-breeds of these

breeds,

two races,

varieties,

more especially those brought from distant countries, we can

make,

make

→in these two cases, and in some but not in all other cases, an almost perfect series between

them

the

→extremes of structure. Thirdly, those characters which are mainly distinctive of each

breed

breed,

→for instance the wattle and length of beak of the carrier, the shortness of that of the tumbler, and the number of tail-feathers in the

fantail;

fantail,

→are in each breed eminently variable; and the explanation of this fact will be obvious when we

~~come to~~

come to

treat of

selection.

Selection.

Fourthly, pigeons have been

watched,

watched

and tended with the utmost care, and loved by many people. They have been domesticated for thousands of years in several quarters of the world; the earliest known record of pigeons is in the fifth

ægyptian

Ægyptian

dynasty, about 3000 B.C., as was pointed out to me by Professor Lepsius; but Mr. Birch informs me that pigeons are given in a bill of fare in the previous dynasty. In the time of the Romans, as we hear from Pliny, immense prices were given for pigeons; "nay, they are come to this pass, that they can reckon up their pedigree and race." Pigeons were much valued by Akber Khan in India, about the year 1600; never less than 20,000 pigeons were taken with the court. "The monarchs of Iran and Turan sent him some very rare

birds";

birds;"

and, continues the courtly historian, "His Majesty by crossing the breeds, which method was never practised before, has improved them astonishingly." About this same period the Dutch were as eager about pigeons as were the old Romans. The paramount importance of these considerations in explaining the immense amount of variation which pigeons have undergone, will

likewise be

obvious when we treat of Selection. We shall then, also, see how it is that the

breeds

several breeds