Identifier: centuryillustratv32newy (find matches)
Title: The century illustrated monthly magazine
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors:
Subjects: American literature
Publisher: New York : Century Co.
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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abit. The duffer is the bird imported for andknown at shooting matches as the blue rock,and is otherwise termed the rockie and thedove-house pigeon. This variety seeks thecompanionship of man, frequenting and rear-ing its young in the nooks of church steeplesand public buildings. In undisturbed coloniesthere is great variation in color and markings,but none in structure. Both the blue rock and the duffer have thebeak long, slender, and of horn color, andthe eyes, feet, and legs bright red. There isalso a striking resemblance in contour, buthere the likeness ends. The blue rock hasthe body color of light blue except upon therump or lower part of the back, which iswhite. The folded wings and tail also showthe black bar caused by the terminal spot ofblack upon each of the secondary and tailfeathers. The duffer is dark slaty-blue through-out except upon the wing-coverts, where, eachfeather being tipped with a lighter shade, thereis a checkered appearance. THE BREEDING OF FANCY PIGEONS. 97
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IMPROVED ENGLISH FANTAIL. (OWNED BY J. G. HOWLAND, WORCESTER, MASS.) The class of fancy pigeons is made up ofa great number of varieties, each distinct inmarking or form or both; these variationsbeing so controlled in breeding as to bringthem within certain defined limits. The idealbird of each, whatever the tendency of thevariety, is built upon the lines of harmonyand perfect symmetry. The origin of the fancy pigeon has been a vexed question with naturalists and wise menthrough the past century, and is still open.Mr. Charles Darwin experimented with pigeonsfor years for material for his work upon Va-riations under Domestication, and to sustainhis theory of the blue rock as the parent stock.But while with his eye single to the purposeof that theory he satisfied the conditions andhis followers, there remains reason for doubt. 98 THE BREEDING OE EANCY PIGEONS. One experiment was especially interesting, andits results were offered as the conclusion of thewhole matter; but viewed from ano

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