PIGEONS. 



101 



thers named the " purle," spreading in opposite directions, like 

 the frill of a shirt ; and from the beak to the purle reaches 

 the gullet. 



The colors of this pigeon are mostly yellow, dun, red, blue, 

 and black; and accasionally chequered. According to the 

 fancy, the back of the wings and tail should conresporid in 

 color, except in tb^ yellow and red birds, whose tails should 

 be white. A stripe of black should cross the wings of the 

 blue birds, but the other body and flight feathers should be 

 white; they are termed "black-shouldered," or "blue-shoul- 

 dered," as their color may be ; and when of one color only, 



THE TURBIT. 



these pigeons have been sold as "owls." Turbits are also 

 chosen for the shortness of their beaks, and their spreading 

 "purle;" and if well-trained, when young, they will become 

 excellent flyers. 



THE NUN. 



The nun is greatly admired, from the elegantly contrasting 

 colors of its plumage. Its body is generally white, and its tail 

 and six flight feathers of its wings should be either wholly red, 

 \ivid yellow, or black, as likewise its head, which is adorned 

 and nearly covered by a tuft, or " veil," of pure white feathers. 



According to its colors, the bird is termed a red, yellow or 

 black-headed " nun," as it may happen to be; and whenever the 

 feathers vary from this rule, the bird is termed " foul-headed,*' 

 or " foul-flighted," and is greatly diminished in value; but 

 vith such as frequently rear clean-feathered birds, as perfect 



