90 FANCY PIGEONS. 



very ricli in quality. It is found in black, red, yellow, blue, 

 and silver, with dark bars and without bars, and in off 

 colours. 



The Saxon, or Bohemian Swallow Pigeon, according to 

 Priitz, answers to the foregoing description, except that it is 

 marked on the head with only a frontal spot above the beak, 

 of the size of a pea ; while another variety, known as the 

 Silesian, has not even this mark, but is white-headed. Besides 

 shell-crested and plain-headed ones, a variety exists double- 

 crested, or with a rose over the beak, like a Trumpeter or 

 Priest. 



The Nlirnberg Swallow in its purity has been known, 

 according to Neumeister, from ancient times. In marking 

 it is like the illustration, but the quality of its colours is 

 exceedingly rich, owing to a certain fat or oil in its system, 

 which it has in common with certain Eastern pigeons. Its 

 plumage fits loosely, but, at the same time, is thick, soft, 

 and fatty to the touch. The colours are fiery and rich, the 

 black deeper and more velvety than with all other (German) 

 species of pigeon; the white, on the other hand, looks as if 

 oiled, for which reason this pigeon is called in Wiirnberg 

 " the Greasy Fairy." All the feathers under the wings, about 

 the thighs, and round the vent, instead of shedding their 

 fibres in the usual way, remain merely cases filled with 

 yellow fat or wax, or, at most, only shed a small portion 

 of their extremities. I have found the same peculiarity in 

 other pigeons, and at one time considered it a disease, instead 

 of which I now believe it is this fat or grease in the system 

 which gives the extraordinary metallic lustre to the few 

 varieties of domestic pigeons that possess it. The Black 

 Niirnberg Swallow has most of these grease quills, and, from 

 its beautiful green lustre, is called the " Velvet Fairy." Next 

 it comes the Red, while the Yellow and Blue have not so much 

 of this peculiar feathering. 



Swallows are said to be found in the following varieties : 



