[TABLE 5.I.
PIGEONS WITH THEIR BEAKS GENERALLY SHORTER THAN THAT OF THE ROCK-PIGEON, PROPORTIONALLY TO THE SIZE OF THEIR BODIES.
Column 1. Name of Breed.
Column 2. Actual length of Feet (inches).
Column 3. Difference between actual and calculated length of feet, in proportion to length of feet and size of body in the Rock-pigeon.
Column 3a. Too short by (inches).
Column 3b. Too long by (inches).
1. 2. 3a. 3b.
Wild rock-pigeon (mean measurement). 2.02
Short-faced Tumbler, bald-head. 1.57 0.11 ..
Short-faced Tumbler, almond. 1.60 0.16 ..
Tumbler, red magpie. 1.75 0.19 ..
Tumbler, red common (by standard to end of tail). 1.85 0.07 ..
Tumbler, common bald-head. 1.85 0.18 ..
Tumbler, roller. 1.80 0.06 ..
Turbit. 1.75 0.17 ..
Turbit. 1.80 0.01 ..
Turbit. 1.84 0.15 ..
Jacobin. 1.90 0.02 ..
Trumpeter, white. 2.02 0.06 ..
Trumpeter, mottled. 1.95 0.18 ..
Fantail (by standard to end of tail). 1.85 0.15 ..
Fantail (by standard to end of tail). 1.95 0.15 ..
Fantail crested var. Ditto. 1.95 0.0 0.0
Indian Frill-back Ditto. 1.8O 0.19 ..
English Frill-back. 2.10 0.03 ..
Nun. 1.82 0.02 ..
Laugher. 1.65 0.16 ..
Barb. 2.00 0.03 ..
Barb. 2.00 .. 0.03
Spot. 1.90 0.02 ..
Spot. 1.90 0.07 ..
Swallow, red. 1.85 0.18 ..
Swallow, blue. 2.00 .. 0.03
Pouter. 2.42 .. 0.11
Pouter, German. 2.30 .. 0.09
Bussorah Carrier. 2.17 .. 0.09
Number of specimens. 28 22 5
I measured most of the birds which came into my possession, from the feathered BASE of the beak (the length of beak itself being so variable) to the end of the tail, and to the oil-gland, but unfortunately (except in a few cases) not to the root of the tail; I measured each bird from the extreme tip to tip of wing; and the length of the terminal folded part of the wing, from the extremity of the primaries to the joint of the radius. I measured the feet without the claws, from the end of the middle toe to the end of the hind toe; and the tarsus and middle toe together. I have taken in every case the mean measurement of two wild rock-pigeons from the Shetland Islands, as the standard of comparison. The following table shows the actual length of the feet in each bird; and the difference between the length which the feet ought to have had according to the size of body of each, in comparison with the size of body and length of feet of the rock- pigeon, calculated (with a few specified exceptions) by the standard of the length of the body from the base of the beak to the oil-gland. I have preferred this standard, owing to the variability of the length of tail. But I have made similar calculations, taking as the standard the length from tip to tip of wing, and likewise in most cases from the base of the beak to the end of the tail; and the result has always been closely similar.