Control of Sex in Pigeons

Abstract

THE late Prof. Whitman, of Chicago, was the first to show the remarkable suitability of wild pigeons for the analysis of the sex-problem. He found, for instance, that generic crosses (Columba and Turtur), when not permitted to lay many eggs, produce mostly or only males; that such pairs, when made to lay many eggs (crowded reproduction), produce males predominantly from their earlier stronger eggs, and predominantly or only females from the later eggs laid under stress of overwork; and that from eggs of pure wild species the first egg of the pair or clutch more often hatches a male, while the second egg of the pair more often produces a female. Dr. Oscar Riddle has followed up Prof. Whitman's work with very important results, bearing not only on the theory of sex, but also on possible practical control.