306 FANCY PIGEONS. 



Franzosische Bagdette. He speaks of it in similar terms to 

 the foregoing, adding tliat the tail is sometimes carried 

 upright, but must not be like a swallow's tail — probably meaning 

 that it must be close, and not split. He says the plumage is 

 close, fitting the body so tightly that all its parts are sharply 

 prominent, especially the shoulders and the breast bone, the bare 

 skin being often visible on these parts, which is a peculiarity, 

 more or less, of all the Carrier race. Brent says : " I have met 

 with very fine specimens in France, by the name of Swan-necked 

 Egyptians. They are very large pigeons, almost as large as the 

 best Runts, They are thinly covered with feathers, and these 

 lie very close to the body ; neither are the tail and pinion 

 feathers remarkable for length. Their beaks are very long, and 

 somewhat bent, and they have a moderate wattle, of a whitish 

 colour, and the cere round the eyes is broad and red. The head 

 is flat ; the neck long, thin, and much bent ; the shoulders are 

 broad ; the legs long and large, and they are the most powerful 

 of all pigeons I have met with. They are heavy, clumsy birds, 

 and appear to have great difficulty in rising ; but I have found 

 the young, if kept in exercise, and not allowed to get too fat, 

 to be very swift, and excellent homing birds. In the air they 

 remind me of wild ducks, owing to their scanty plumage and 

 angular form. Many points of the body are left bare, as the 

 front of the neck and the shoulders of the wings, exposing a 

 red skin. Mine were very good breeders, though they are not 

 generally considered so. Their plumage is usually white, black, 

 blue, or pied." It is worth notice that Brent found these 

 pigeons excellent homing birds. 



The Little Batavian Bagdad {Pigeon Bagadais petit Batave) 

 " resembles in general form the Great Batavian, but differs 

 in its size, being much less. It produces advantageously." 



The Lace- feathered Batavian Bagdad {Pigeon Bagadais 

 Batave Soie). — "A new variety, quite as rare as singular. It 

 resembles the preceding {petit Batave) in size and general 

 form, but the fibres of its feathers are long and silky, and 



