PIGEON'S AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



and yellow cross is the best, and yet where are the good reds 

 and yellows with which to make it? 



The English standard calls for a "rich, bright golden yel- 

 low" and a "rich golden, chestnut red." 



My advice would be to pair reds and yellows, and then the 

 young, keeping only the best and soundest colors, and 

 cross-mating again and again. Then mate sound red cocks 

 to good red saddle hens. By this latter cross, good style and 

 tail may be had. 



Before closing with re-Js and yellows I might speak of 

 "Duns." Very few are bred either here or in the old world. 

 In fact nobody pays any attention to them. I have also seen 

 alleged "Silver" fans, but never one that in any way ap- 

 proached the standard fantail. 



SADDLE-BACK FANTAILS. 



In saddles, 1 feel that there is a great opening. It is only 

 of late years that they have sprung into popularity in this 

 country. 



They come in all colors, and, when one gets a good one, he 

 feels well repaid for his time and trouble. Yet good ones 

 are scarce. They should have not a mark to mar the beauti- 

 ful body white, save the marking on the wing, but they are 

 prone to come with foul feathers in the breast, bishoped 

 wings or foul wing butts. Sometimes a grand young speci- 

 men will be ruined by a few foul feathers in the tail. Some- 

 times all else is perfect, but the foul will crop out all over 

 the thighs, and around the vent. 



There is absolutely no rule by which one can go. A pair 

 as near perfectly marked as can be had, will throw young 

 that are worthless, while a pair badly inismarked will throw 

 young after young that are away up. 



In general properties, that is, fantail properties, saddle-; 



