76 FANCY PIGEONS. 



Toy of peculiar marking belonging to the Field type of 

 pigeons, but more slenderly built, and a good flyer and 

 breeder. It is marked on the head, neck, and breast 

 black, blue, red, or yellow, the colour being cut across, 

 or evenly belted, before reaching the thighs. The back, wings, 

 tail, and under parts are pure white, but only after the 

 first moult, the nest feathers being tinged with colour. A 

 variety of the yellow ones retain yellow wing bars ; but 

 these are rare. The beak is light, and the iris yellow. 

 They are generally smooth-headed, but occasionally shell- 

 hooded, and smooth and feathered-legged specimens are found 

 among them. The black variety generally retains some 

 colour on the parts that should moult white, from which it 

 derives the special name of Russtaube, or Soot Pigeon. I saw 

 a pair of these birds lately. The head, neck, and breast were 

 of a purple-black, and the wing coverts white, tinged with 

 black, as if dirtied with much handling. 



There are also Breast Pigeons having the said marking 

 reversed, the head, neck, and breast being white, and the rest 

 of the feathers coloured. Such are mentioned by the 

 German author, Neumeister ; but I have never seen any of 

 them. 



The Ice Pigeon. 



This variety derives its name from its beautiful lavender 

 blue colour, considered by the German fanciers to resemble 

 blue ice; hence its name die Eistaube. It is also known by 

 the names MeM and Lasurtaube, signifying Meal and Azure 

 Blue Pigeon. There are several varieties of the Ice Pigeon, 

 the simplest form being of a beautiful clear light blue, 

 without wing bars, but with dark flights and barred tail. 

 This form, which is probably the original of the others, is of 

 the size of the common Field Pigeon, but more thickset, and 

 broader chested, shorter necked and legged. It should be 

 heavily feathered on the legs and feet. It has a dark beak 



