202 PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



THE BARB. 



THE Barb is a variety of pigeon well known the world 

 over, but I am sorry to say that it seems to have ret- 

 rograded in the popular fancy in this country during 

 the last few years. At the old-time shows, Barbs were always 

 an important class and well filled ; but latterly they seem to 

 have lost their hold on the popular fancy, and the Barb class- 

 es are not only badly filled, but the entries are confined to 

 two or three fanciers w r ho still stick to them. 



Barbs have brought very high prices in the fancy, perhaps 

 as high as any known variety. Most of its points lie in the 

 skull, the head total, 'and the beak and jew wattle. 



In size, the bird is medium, but it has the broad breast, 

 strong and prominent wing butts, and the general " well 

 built' 1 appearance of birds of its family. 



The beak is short and massive, with a strong, " down-face '' 

 appearance, and the mandibles are of about even thickness. 



The beak wattle stands out large and full, extending well 

 onto the beak. It is of fine texture, evenly divided on either 

 side, and must not be stained. The jew wattle matches the 

 beak wattle as nearly as possible and must have no stains. 

 The jaw of the barb is full and strong, and adds to the square 

 appearance of the entire head. 



The eyes are completely surrounded by a heavy eye wattle 

 of a bright red. The eye is pearl color with dark pupil ex- 

 cept in whites, which have bull eyes. The legs and feet are 

 as bright a red as possible. 



The eye wattle, being a great point, is worthy of a careful 

 description. It is circular and even, filling out evenly in all 

 directions and should stand well out from the eyes. Its even- 

 ness is its great point and there should be no tendency to 



