Chapter V: Domestic Pigeons (3)

[2] Mr. B. P. Brent, well known for his various contributions to poultry literature, has aided me in every way during several years: so has Mr. Tegetmeier, with unwearied kindness. This latter gentleman, who is well known for his works on poultry, and who has largely bred pigeons, has looked over this and the following chapters. Mr. Bult formerly showed me his unrivalled collection of Pouters, and gave me specimens. I had access to Mr. Wicking’s collection, which contained a greater assortment of kinds than could anywhere else be seen; and he has always aided me with specimens and information given in the freest manner. Mr. Haynes and Mr. Corker have given me specimens of their magnificent Carriers. To Mr. Harrison Weir I am likewise indebted. Nor must I by any means pass over the assistance received from Mr. J. M. Eaton, Mr. Baker, Mr. Evans, and Mr. J. Baily, jun., of Mount-street—to the latter gentleman I have been indebted for some valuable specimens. To all these gentlemen I beg permission to return my sincere and cordial thanks.

[3] ‘Les Pigeons de Volière et de Colombier’ Paris 1824. During forty-five years the sole occupation of M. Corbié was the care of the pigeons belonging to the Duchess of Berry. Bonizzi has described a large number of coloured varieties in Italy: ‘Le variazioni dei colombi Domestici,’ Padova, 1873.

[4] ‘Coup d’Oeil sur l’Ordre des Pigeons’ par Prince C. L. Bonaparte, Paris, 1855. This author makes 288 species, ranked under 85 genera.

[5] As I so often refer to the size of the _C. livia,_ or rock-pigeon, it may be convenient to give the mean between the measurements of two wild birds, kindly sent me by Dr. Edmondstone from the Shetland Islands.

Inches From feathered base of beak to end of tail: 14·25 From
feathered base of beak to oil-gland: 9·50 From tip of beak to
end of tail: 15·02 Of tail-feathers: 4·62 From tip to tip of
wing: 26·75 Of folded wing: 9·25 Beak: Length from tip of
beak to feathered base: ·77 Thickness, measured vertically at
distal end of nostrils: ·23 Breadth, measured at same
place: ·16 Feet: From end of middle toe (without claw) to
distal end of tibia: 2·77 From end of middle toe to end of hind
toe (without claws): 2·02 Weight: 14-1/4 ounces.

[6] This drawing was made from a dead bird. The six following figures were drawn with great care by Mr. Luke Wells from living birds selected by Mr. Tegetmeier. It may be confidently asserted that the characters of the six breeds which have been figured are not in the least exaggerated.

[7] ‘Das Ganze der Taubenzucht:’ Weimar, 1837, pl. 11 and 12.

[8] Boitard and Corbié, ‘Les Pigeons,’ etc., p. 177, pl. 6.

[9] ‘Die Taubenzucht,’ Ulm, 1824, s. 42.

[10] This treatise was written by Sayzid Mohammed Musari, who died in 1770: I owe to the great kindness of Sir W. Elliot a translation of this curious treatise.

[11] ‘Poultry Chronicle,’ vol. 2, p. 573.

[12] ‘Annals and Mag. of Nat. History,’ vol. xix, 1847, p. 105.

[13] This gland occurs in most birds; but Nitzsch (in his ‘Pterylographie,’ 1840, p. 55) states that it is absent in two species of Columba, in several species of Psittacus, in some species of Otis, and in most or all birds of the Ostrich family. It can hardly be an accidental coincidence that the two species of Columba, which are destitute of an oil-gland, have an unusual number of tail-feathers, namely 16, and in this respect resemble Fantails.

[14] _See_ the two excellent editions published by Mr. J. M. Eaton in 1852 and 1858, entitled ‘A Treatise on Fancy Pigeons.’

[15] English translation, by F. Gladwin, 4th edition, vol. i. The habit of the Lotan is also described in the Persian treatise before alluded to, published about 100 years ago: at this date the Lotans were generally white and crested as at present. Mr. Blyth describes these birds in ‘Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,’ vol. xiv., 1847, p. 104; he says that they “may be seen at any of the Calcutta bird-dealers.”

[16] ‘Journal of Horticulture,’ Oct. 22, 1861, p. 76.

[17] _See_ the account of the House-tumblers kept at Glasgow, in the ‘Cottage Gardener,’ 1858, p. 285. Also Mr. Brent’s paper, ‘Journal of Horticulture,’ 1861, p. 76.

[18] J. M. Eaton, ‘Treatise on Pigeons,’ 1852, p. 9.

[19] J. M. Eaton, ‘Treatise,’ edit. 1858, p. 76.

[20] Neumeister, ‘Taubenzucht,’ tab. 4. fig. i.

[21] Riedel, ‘Die Taubenzucht,’ 1824, s. 26. Bechstein, ‘Naturgeschichte Deutschlands,’ Band iv. s. 36, 1795.

[22] Willughby’s ‘Ornithology,’ edited by Ray.

[23] J. M. Eaton’s edition (1858) of Moore, p. 98.

[24] Pigeon pattu plongeur. ‘Les Pigeons,’ etc., p. 165.

[25] ‘Naturgeschichte Deutschlands,’ Band iv. s. 47.

[26] Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, ‘Journal of Horticulture,’ Jan. 20, 1863, p. 58.

[27] ‘Coup-d’œil sur L’Ordre des Pigeons,’ par C. L. Bonaparte (‘Comptes Rendus’), 1854-55. Mr. Blyth, in ‘Annals of Nat. Hist.,’ vol. xix., 1847, p. 41, mentions, as a very singular fact, “that of the two species of Ectopistes, which are nearly allied to each other, one should have fourteen tail-feathers, while the other, the passenger pigeon of North America, should possess but the usual number—twelve.”

[28] Described and figured in the ‘Poultry Chronicle,’ vol. iii., 1855, p. 82.

[29] ‘The Pigeon Book,’ by Mr. B. P. Brent, 1859, p. 41.

[30] ‘Die staarhälsige Taube. Das Ganze, etc.,’ s. 21, tab. i. fig. 4.

[31] ‘A Treatise on the Almond-Tumbler,’ by J. M. Eaton, 1852, p. 8, _et passim._

[32] ‘A Treatise, etc.,’ p. 10.

[33] Boitard and Corbié ‘Les Pigeons,’ etc., 1824, p. 173.

[34] ‘Le Pigeon Voyageur Belge,’ 1865, p. 87. I have given in my ‘Descent of Man’ (6th edit. p. 466) some curious cases, on the authority of Mr. Tegetmeier, of silver-coloured (_i.e._ very pale blue) birds being generally females, and of the ease with which a race thus characterised could be produced. Bonizzi (_see_ ‘Variazioni dei Columbi domestici:’ Padova, 1873) states that certain coloured spots are often different in the two sexes, and the certain tints are commoner in females than in male pigeons.

[35] Prof. A. Newton (‘Proc. Zoolog. Soc.,’ 1865, p. 716) remarks that he knows no species which present any remarkable sexual distinction; but Mr. Wallace informs me, that in the sub-family of the Treronidæ the sexes often differ considerably in colour. _See also_ on sexual differences in the Columbidæ, Gould, ‘Handbook to the Birds of Australia,’ vol. ii., pp. 109-149.

[36] I am not sure that I have designated the different kinds of vertebræ correctly: but I observe that different anatomists follow in this respect different rules, and, as I use the same terms in the comparison of all the skeletons, this, I hope, will not signify.

[37] J. M. Eaton’s ‘Treatise,’ edit. 1858, p. 78.

[38] In an analogous, but converse, manner, certain natural groups of the Columbidæ, from being more terrestrial in their habits than other allied groups, have larger feet. _See_ Prince Bonaparte’s ‘Coup d’œil sur l’Ordre des Pigeons.’

[39] It perhaps deserves notice that besides these five birds two of the eight were Barbs, which, as I have shown, must be classed in the same group with the long-beaked Carriers and Runts. Barbs may properly be called short-beaked Carriers. It would, therefore, appear as if, during the reduction of their beaks, their wings had retained a little of that excess of length which is characteristic of their nearest relations and progenitors.

[40] Temminck, ‘Hist. Nat. Gén. des Pigeons et des Gallinacés,’ tom. i., 1813, p. 170.

[41] This term was used by John Hunter for such differences in structure between the males and females, as are not directly connected with the act of reproduction, as the tail of the peacock, the horns of deer, etc.