133 OTHER ASIAN PIGEONS. 



were brought to this country from Asia Minor, some of 

 which came into my possession. 



In shape and size of body, the Mahomet is not unlike the 

 Barb, and, were it not that its beak and eye wattles are 

 nearly black, instead of red, it might naturally be supposed 

 to be of the Barb race. The head is full and round, the 

 beak short and thick, but not hooked; the irides are bright 

 orange or deep yellow, and the beak and eye wattles, though 

 almost black, are covered, when in health, with a powder 

 that makes them of a beautiful blue colour. In colour, this 

 pigeon is of the most lovely light blue, frosted all over as 

 if with powder, except on the wing bars, flights, and tail. 

 The bars should remain, as in the old description, as black 

 as ebony. The flights are of a medium tint, darker than 

 shown in the illustration, as is the tail, except that it has 

 the jet black bar at its extremity. The lower part of the 

 neck is lustrous with hues of very light green and purple. 

 The beak and nails are black, the feet and legs bright red, 

 sometimes stockinged, but I much prefer them smooth. 

 Although of such a beautiful light blue, or what is called a 

 French white, tint on the surface, the neck and body feathers 

 are dark bluish -black underneath when exposed ; but this 

 must not assert itself when the bird is at liberty. This 

 beautiful colouring is not confined entirely to the Mahomet, 

 as the same feather, or nearly so, may be found among the 

 Ice Pigeons ; but what makes the former of such an original 

 type is the dark eye wattles. It would almost seem to be 

 related to the Owl race of pigeons as well, as it has a very 

 pronounced gullet and seam, or division down the breast, 

 though no actual frill. 



This distinction, and the shape of its head, make it a likely 

 cross with the Blue Owl, which I know has been tried with 

 success in more than one instance. 



It is a pity that the Mahomet is so scarce, for, although it 

 has not in its composition what would make it, even though 



