120 PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



One will be almost a checker, or so dark as to hardly be en- 

 tilled to the name of blue; while the next will be almost a 

 silver. Another will be good in wings and tail, but will run 

 too light in I lie cushion and around vent. 



BLACK FAXTAILS. 



Hlack fans are brooming quite the rage now, and I am 

 glad to sec it, for a more lovely bird does not exist. And 

 yet they need little description, for they are simply the re- 

 verse of t lie white in color. The same general rules govern 

 as to size, shape and carriage, and the point is to get that 

 sound, pure metallic black, that i.s a black. A smutty black 

 never was, and never will be pretty. Get a black that has a 

 sheen all over, with r. lustre on the neck that looks as if 

 burnished. Get the feet a rich healthy red that makes a 

 contrast, and the proper white or pearl eye, and that is the 

 black we all want. 



YELLOW AND RED FANTAILS. 



In these two colors, the fancier who loves to experiment 

 will lind a good field. I do not wish to hurt the feelings of 

 fanciers of these colors, but I must say that good ones in 

 either, are few and far between. 



I believe that there are a few, a very few, good Reds and 

 Yellows in England, and there may be in this country, but 

 I have not seen them. 



It seems sad to think of the years that have been put in by 

 enthusiastic fanciers to try and get something good in these 

 two colors, with such poor results. 



One would suppose that a fair red or yellow bred onto a 

 good lustrous black, would bring a sound color, with the 

 added style and tail of the black, but experiments have not 

 shown this to be the case. The young generally come dun 

 or ash colored in the cushions, and vents. I think that a red 



