82 FANCY PIGEONS. 



all the young ones of other pairs running after it for food. 

 It is the only kind that, during the so-called famine months, 

 knows how to provide its young ones with the necessary 

 food, and bring them up. It is particularly distinguished by 

 its diligent roaming, possesses all the qualities of an ex- 

 cellent Field Pigeon, and generally serves as a guide to the 

 others in the field." 



The Starling Neck is also known in Germany as the Trauer- 

 taube, or Mourning Pigeon a very appropriate name for the 

 little fellow in his black coat and white bands. 



The French Starling Pigeon described by Boitard and 

 Corbie is stocking-legged and turn-crowned, and marked as 

 the German. These authors only mention the Black variety, 

 and, on account of its crest, place it among the Pigeons 

 Coquilles; hence its name, Pigeon Coquille Etourneau. 



Brent speaks of a Crested variety of the Starling that has, 

 in addition to the ordinary marks of the breed, the upper 

 mandible and head white, as in the Priest Pigeon. This may 

 probably be the Starling-barred Priest; but Brent makes no 

 mention of the white nights and tail. 



The Suabian Pigeon. 



The Suabian Pigeon, which is a German breed, is known 

 also in France. Neumeister has classed it not very 

 correctly, I think among the Priest Pigeons, under the name 

 of die Gestaarte Silberschuppige Pfaffentaube (the Starling 

 Silver-scaled Priest Pigeon), and says that it comes from 

 Suabia. Boitard. and Corbie class it among the Pigeons 

 Coquilles, and call it the Pigeon Coquille Soudbe. I think 

 there can be little doubt that the Suabian was produced 

 from the Starling Pigeon, by breeding together such as came 

 too light in colour, till at length the desired marking was 

 fixed. "When in perfection, the Suabian is certainly one of the 

 most beautifully feathered birds in creation, and a striking 

 example of the ingenuity displayed by careful breeders of 



