45 COLOURS. 



is outspread, a band of black. Tlie outer tail feathers are 

 margined with white on their outer edge as far as the black 

 band. 



The blue rock pigeon, when partially domesticated in field 

 dovecotes, sometimes alters in colour, and the wing coverts 

 assume a dappled appearance, being chequered on each feather 

 with black. The dovehouse pigeon, as it is called, has been 

 considered by some a distinct variety from the blue rock ; but 

 I have always found both the clear blue and blue chequered 

 varieties living together in all the field dovecotes where I 

 have observed these semi-wild pigeons. And not only in 

 this country, but also in India, where semi-wild pigeons 

 inhabit temples, mosques, and ruined buildings, both varieties 

 may be found living together. The blue-chequered colour, 

 like the blue, is found in most kinds of fancy pigeons, 

 and may be considered to have originated all the curious 

 spangling and chequering that exist in numerous kinds of 

 pigeons. 



Changes in Colour. 



The first decided change in colour of the blue rock pigeon, 

 after the chequered variety, is where the whole plumage alters 

 to a red tint. This variation, also found in most kinds of 

 tame pigeons, is known as mealy. The blue is replaced by a 

 whitey-brown tint, and the neck and wing bars become dark 

 red. When the mealy colour is improved by selection, it can 

 be made into a very beautiful colour, as in the mealy show 

 Antwerp. As the blue colour becomes chequered with black, 

 so the mealy becomes chequered with red, and is called a red 

 chequer. 



These four colours, the blue, blue chequer, mealy, and red 

 chequer, are, then, the most original colours in tame pigeons, 

 and they are the foundation of all other colours found in 

 them. 



Besides the blue and mealy colours, there is what may be 



