January 21, 1875. ] 



JOOBNAL OF HOBTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



61 



to become enthusiastic in their favour. The fanciers of Barbs 

 may be divided into two classes : one in favour of the coarse 

 vulgar birds, of which there are many ; the other favouring the 

 small elegant birds, which are the antipodes of the Carriers, 

 and of which there are so few. We are hajjpy to state that the 

 most refined fanciers are nearly all to be placed in the class ad- 

 vocating the small specimen. The extreme beauty of such 

 birds is the determiuiug cause, and a faucier who has once seen 

 a good-headed creation of the small type will never be satisfied 

 with a " razeed Carrier." Like all fancies for pictures, sculpture, 

 horses, or what not, the pursuit tends to refinement and exclu- 

 sion, and the man who begins with commons and common speci- 



mens is as sure to reach a higher taste for the rarest (among 

 Pigeons) as he who tosses away chromos or plaster casts for 

 llembrandts or Angelos. 



The reason Barhs have not heretofore caused a sensation is 

 because they have never been properly bred. They have been 

 kept too near the Carriers ; there has not been enough distmc- 

 tion to make the keeping of the two varieties interesting ; they 

 have been playing second fiddles, and always will, as long as the 

 difference in beaks is the only contrast observable to the ordinary 

 looker-on in Pigeondom. 



Few persons have devoted themselves entirely to Barb culture, 

 and among the few we know there has been but one arrived at 



Tig. 15 — The barb. 



anything like success. He has produced one bird, which we 

 shall bear in mind in giving the points we think most important 

 to breed for. The others of our acquaintances have been con- 

 tented to rear a large number of second-fiddles, resting satisfied 

 with quantity instead of quality. We have had the pleasure of 

 watching two fanciers, one of Carriers, the other of Barbs, and 

 have derived much information as well as amusement from their 

 conversations. The Carrier is striving for a long beak, just 

 another quarter, with the head a little narrower ; while the 

 Barb says, " If I can only breed the beak a little shorter, and 

 the head a little broader, all will be right." So they go, and 

 neither pays attention to the bodies, and the result is two birds 

 of nearly the same size, only distinguishable by examination of 

 the beaks. We saw at a show a short time ago two such birds, 

 which it would have been impossible to distinguish by merely 

 feeling any part except the beaks. 

 The shape of the Barb should be different from all the other 



varieties. It should be small, compact, and stout in appearance, 

 like the pug among dogs. The Almond Tumbler is small and 

 light; the Barb should be small and stout, like a short, sturdy, 

 broad-backed person, perfect in proportion, but proportions 

 heavy according to size of individual — in other words, a little 

 big Pigeon ; the feet red, toes well spread and flat upon the 

 ground ; broad across the shoulders ; flights and tail long. The 

 neck rising full from the shoulders becomes thin and small at 

 its connection with the head, presenting the appearance of the 

 neck of the broad-headed snakes. 



The head is considered the most important part, and most of 

 the care has been bestowed upon its points ; it should be broad 

 across, and short from before backwards. The beak is short and 

 broad at its base ; it should be of the Hnwk or Owl variety, set 

 on in a line with the brow and head, thus presenting what is 

 called a down face. Very little beak-wattle allowed, the less the 

 better. 



