ORIENTAL FRILL PIGEONS. 



an instance of the lacing making its appearance 

 just below the breast, travelling down right 

 underneath, even down to the foot feather. 



Such being the case, is it to be wondered 

 that later on we find the lacing creeping up to 

 the neck and finally crowning nature's work by 

 planting it on the head? No, nature may, and 

 does, play us false at times, but her workings, as 

 a rule, are very true and accurate. 



This brings us back to the bird illustrated, 

 ' ' the climax in lacing. ' ' Now the first Blondin- 

 ette I saw with this frostiness on the head was a 

 dun-laced hen, bred and exhibited by my friend, 

 Mr. James F. King, of Oxford. She was a bird, 

 he named, I believe, " Silver Queen." She was 

 shown at Leeds Smithfield Show. I just cannot 

 remember the year, but I should say it is about 

 20 years ago. I was judging the Oriental Frills 

 on that occasion, and was particularly charmed 

 with this hen. I had no hesitation in placing 

 her first in her class, and ultimately awarding 

 her the challenge bowl for best young Oriental 

 Frill in the show. 



Now I have always associated this hen as 

 laying the foundation for the appearance from 

 time to time of the lacing on the head of our black 

 and dun -laced Blondinettes. No breeder has so 

 consistently, during the last twenty years, at all 

 events, produced so many perfectly laced Blon- 

 dinettes in these colours as Mr. J. F. King. And 

 I think without consulting his stud book I should 



26 



