104 FANCY PIGEONS. 



rally blue or mealy, but I have seen turbit-marked ones, witli 

 bronzed black shoulders. Its feathering is similar to that 

 of the Frizzled Fowls, or Sebastopol Geese — that is, reverted, 

 making it appear to have been out in a storm. This appear- 

 ance is owing to the concave surface of the feathers, more 

 especially those of the wing coverts and back, being outward 

 instead of inward, or next the body, as in other pigeons. 

 On its re-introduction into England, where it has been 

 common for some years back, and where it has done some 

 winning in the " Any other variety " classes, it was called 

 by the name of another pigeon, one of an opposite character 

 to it — the Frillback. This was the more inexcusable, as the 

 Frillback was not extinct in England. This bird, being neither 

 a Runt nor a Frillback, may be appropriately named the 

 Frizzled Pigeon. 



The Frillback Pigeon. 



The first mention of this curious bird was in the "Treatise 

 on Pigeons," dedicated to John Mayor, published in 1765. As 

 the description is very good, concise, and clear, I reproduce it. 

 " The Frillback is something less in size than a Dragoon, and 

 in shape like the common Runt ; their colour generally (if not 

 always) white; and what is chiefly remarkable in them is the 

 turn of their feathers, which appear as if every one distinctly 

 had been raised at the extremity with a small round, pointed 

 instrument, in such manner as to form a small cavity in each 

 of them." The Frillback, which is the German Stru'pp oder 

 Perltauhe (Bristle, or Pearl Pigeon), is said to be a native of the 

 Netherlands, and Brent met with it in Saxony. It is of the 

 size of the common field pigeon, and is described as always pure 

 white in colour, with an orange or gravelly red iris. I believe 

 this variety is usually white, at least, I have never seen it of 

 any other feather. They are turn-crowned, and generally 

 smooth-legged; but I have seen specimens with well-feathered 

 legs and feet. Their peculiar appearance is caused by the 



