18.01.2013 Views

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

feather is transversely marked by numerous<br />

dark bars; but in their second plumage the feathers<br />

all become spangled or tipped with a dark<br />

round spot. (34. <strong>The</strong>se facts are given on the<br />

high authority <strong>of</strong> a great breeder, Mr. Teebay;<br />

see Tegetmeier's 'Poultry Book,' 1868, p. 158.<br />

On the characters <strong>of</strong> chickens <strong>of</strong> different<br />

breeds, and on the breeds <strong>of</strong> the pigeon, alluded<br />

to in the following paragraph, see 'Variation<br />

<strong>of</strong> Animals,' etc., vol. i. pp. 160, 249; vol. ii.<br />

p. 77.) Hence in this breed variations have occurred<br />

at, and been transmitted to, three distinct<br />

periods <strong>of</strong> life. <strong>The</strong> Pigeon <strong>of</strong>fers a more<br />

remarkable case, because the aboriginal parent<br />

species does not undergo any change <strong>of</strong> plumage<br />

with advancing age, excepting that at<br />

maturity the breast becomes more iridescent;<br />

yet there are breeds which do not acquire their<br />

characteristic colours until they have moulted<br />

two, three, or four times; and these modifications<br />

<strong>of</strong> plumage are regularly transmitted.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!