87 PIGEONS OF COLOUR. 



There are also Priests which have mirrored or finchecl 

 flights — i.e., with triangular or rounded white spots near the 

 extremities of the flight feathers, like some Blondinettes. 

 These spots appear after the first moult ; and the bar feathers 

 are similarly marked. There is also a variety of the priest 

 with frontal tuft, but no crest at back of the head. 



The Whitehead, or A/Ioulter Pigeon. 



This pigeon, which is referred to by Brent under the name 

 of the Pilferer, as a sub- variety of the Priest, is known 

 in Germany as die WeiszTcopf oder die Mdusertaube. Mauser, 

 besides meaning to filch or pilfer, also means to change 

 feathers, or cast the skin. A German gentleman, to whom 

 I referred the question, renders the above title, the White- 

 head, or Moulter Pigeon, and the description of the breed 

 is as follows : " The Whitehead is one of the rarest coloured 

 pigeons, and is found only in a few places in Thuringia. 

 Its head has a beautiful broad shell hood; the upper bill is 

 white, the iris yellow, corresponding with the ground colour 

 of the plumage. The legs and toes are feathered. The 

 plumage has a metallic black, red, yellow, or dark bronze 

 lustre, which forms the pnncipal beauty of this pigeon. It 

 has a broad breast and a low posture. The head and tail, 

 with its coverts, are white. These marks are not, however, 

 of any great fixity, the head being often marked unequally, 

 sometimes only the upper part of it being white. The 

 feathers on the feet are sometimes foul, and a part of the 

 back is often white. In this variety, therefore, something 

 always remains to be wished for. With black, red, or yellow 

 ones, a belly changing somewhat into blue is a frequent fault 

 which ought to be watched, and, by a suitable selection 

 in breeding, avoided. But the Whitehead with perfect 

 marks is a very fine pigeon. The black and red ones are 

 often excellent, and particularly valued. The latter display, 

 in fine specimens, a peculiarly burning red, even on the belly. 



