100 FANCY PIGEONS. 



naturalists witli the Pouters, as they have the power of 

 slightly inflating their crops. I knew a fancier who bred them 

 extensively, and his birds would have been correctly described 

 as middle-sized Runts, with a slight dash of the Pouter. They 

 are classed as follows : 



Pigeon Maille Jacinthe (Speckled Hyacinth Pigeon). — The 

 shoulders as in a Turbit, or the Manteau in French, of clear 

 blue, chequered or spangled in a particular pattern with 

 white and black, or a black and blue bar on all the 

 feathers, the outer side of the blue bar having a white 

 spot, or spangle ; the ten flight feathers of each wing pure 

 white ; the head, neck, breast, belly, and tail dark purple - 

 blue ; the tail barred with black. 



Pigeon Maille Jacinthe Plein is a little less in size than 

 the preceding, but similar in colouring, except that it has 

 dark blue, instead of white, flights. 



The following varieties are said to be found both with 

 white flights, and plein, or with dark flights. 



Pigeon Maille Couleur de Feu, red or flame-coloured, similar 

 to the Hyacinth, bvit with red, instead of white, spangles. 



Pigeon Maille Noyer, coloured like walnut wood, or in- 

 clining to yellow in the spangles. 



Pigeon Maille Pecker, or peach-coloured in the spangles. 



The Noyer is considered as a cross between the Jacinthe 

 and Couleur de Feu; and the Pecher as a cross between the 

 Jacinthe and Noyer. Each variety is, however, established, 

 and breeds true, according to Boitard and Corbie. 



All I have seen of these varieties were of the dark-flighted 

 kinds. These pigeons have been promiscuously named Hya- 

 cinths, Yictorias, and Porcelains in our pigeon literature; but 

 the above description is that of undoubted authorities, the white- 

 spangled ones alone being entitled to the name of Hyacinths. 

 The white-flighted varieties appear to be larger than the 

 plein, and to have more of the Pouter in them, and I think 

 I can recognise them in Moore's " Columbarium " as follows : 



