220 PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



THE ARCHANGEL. 



THE Archargel is a bird that does not depend 011 sharp 

 contrasts of plumage, yet its plumage is its greatest 

 point, for I do not know of anything more beautiful 

 than the rich bronze of an Archangel's neck and breast, as 

 it shows next to the burnished wing, so inky black that it 

 seems different from almost any other black we see. Per- 

 haps it is the combination of colors that does it ; I only know 

 that for beauty of plumage few birds can excel the Arch- 

 angel. 



I do not consider it a striking bird. I think its beauty 

 grows on one as he slowly takes it in. 



It is another of what are known as German Toys, yet it is 

 different from all the rest. 



Beginning with the head, it should be long and narrow, 

 with a round skujl. In other words its face must be lean 

 and slender, but not angular at the top. The crest should 

 be a perfect peak, running to a nice crest point, and should 

 show no mane at all. The beak is long and slender with 

 somewhat of a curve at the end. It should have a small fine 

 wattle, and the upper mandible of beak of a darker tint than 

 the lower. The eye is full and bright, and deep red in color. 



The neck is long and slender, and is a perfect wedge shape 

 from the shoulders up, which latter should be well defined, 

 but not square. 



The Archangel is not a "blocky" bird, but is slender in all 

 points. The breast protrudes slightly, but must be a neat 

 and pretty curve. 



The wings are very long, but lie close to the body. They 

 reach nearly to the tip of the tail, and rest just over it. The 

 legs are rather long, giving the bird an "upstanding" ap- 



