PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



SWALLOWS. 



THE Swallow is essentially a "toy" bird, its pretty mark- 

 ings being the result of crosses for color in the past, 

 ami ilie credit for its production is given to Germany, 

 where it holds a high place among the ''German Toys." 



Xo bird has more beautiful or more pronounced markings, 

 the contrast being so distinct as to strike the eye at once, 

 even when the bird is far off and on the wing. 



There seems to be no limit to the endless varieties of mark- 

 ing that can be produced. Some years ago the Feathered 

 World produced a cut of a Spangle Spot Swallow, one of the 

 mpst lovely things I ever saw. The wings are spangled and 

 the row goes clear down the flights, while the spangle on the 

 boots is also plainly to be seen. At another time it printed 

 a reproduction of a Spot or Fairy Swallow, which was almost 

 as beautiful. 



Every breed however has its drawbacks, and the only one 

 with the swallow is, that it is hard to breed it true to 

 marking. 



Necessarily in a "made*' bird, foul feathers \\ill continually 

 show, and this drives many a young fancier out of this va- 

 riety, for no matter how perfect his old birds are. he is sure 

 from time to time, to find foul marked young. 



The marking of the perfect Swallow is very simple. If he 

 is a black, the entire body must be snow white. The skull 

 is jet black and this color line must be sharply drawn at the 

 base of the crest, which is a complete cup ciest and snow 

 white. Then beginning sharply at the shoulder the entire 

 wing must be jet black and then we go past the hocks (which 

 are long or "vulture' hocks) and the black begins again 

 sharply at the knee, and extends t.> every feather in the 

 boots. 



