85 PIGEONS OF COLOUR. 



these belong to a sub-variety of the Trumpeter, to be after- 

 wards mentioned; the head of the true Shield is uncrested. 

 In colour they are found black, red, yellow, blue, silver, and also 

 in mixed colours, both plain and with white wing bars. Blues 

 of the latter kind have a black edging on the bars. The 

 rarest are Yellows, with white bars. In this breed some are 

 spangled, marbled, or chequered on the shoulders with two or 

 three colours, like some of the Eastern Frilled and Modena 

 Pigeons. I have seen specimens of this breed exactly marked 

 on the shoulders, and without a foul feather on under body, 

 when lifted up by the wings. 



The Tyrolese Pigeon. 



Die Elstertau'be, der Verkehrtflugel (the Magpie, the Reversed 

 Wing) is a German Toy marked like a Magpie Tumbler, except 

 that the head is white from a line running below the eyes; 

 but on the forehead a coloured spot, as in the Spot Pigeon, 

 is indispensable. It is said to exist in all the chief colours, 

 with a smooth head, and rather strongly feathered legs 

 and feet. Neumeister (1876) says : " It is to be regretted that 

 this really beautiful colour pigeon has been so much neglected 

 that it threatens extinction; its beautiful delineation and 

 shape adorns every dovecote." Herr Priitz calls it the 

 Tyrolertaube in addition to its other names. 



The Priest Pigeon. 



The Priest Pigeon, the Pfaffentaube of Germany, where it is 

 extensively bred, is now well-known in this country in several 

 of its numerous varieties. The general form of the Priest is 

 that of a stoutly-built, thickset pigeon, rather larger than 

 the common Field Pigeon, with which it agrees in shape of 

 head and beak. It is found in the following varieties : 



The Common Priest, which is considered the original of 

 the others, is found in black, blue, red, yellow, and in off 

 colours, with a white upper mandible and head. The line of 



