182 FANCY PIGEONS. 



strain. I look on the broad bright red eye wattle as a great 

 attraction in an otherwise good bird. 



LEGS AND FEET. Although the Jacobin may be got with 

 feathered legs, such a variety having existed for centuries, 

 being mentioned by Aldrovandus, Willughby, and Moore, our 

 standard permits only smooth legs and feet, which should be 

 small, neat, and bright red in colour. 



QUALITY OP FEATHER. The feathers should be soft and 

 silky, of great length, making the bird appear larger and 

 heavier than it would prove to be on being handled. The 

 flights should extend considerably beyond the tail, as much 

 as an inch when the bird is in the hand, though usually not 

 to such an extent when it is at liberty; but the longer they 

 are the better. 



HOOD. The hood is the property of utmost consequence in 

 the Jacobin. It is formed by the feathers round the back of 

 the head and upper neck all growing forward. The feathers 

 of the head do not, in a good bird, turn up where they meet 

 the forward growing hood, and so fall into the sweep of it, 

 as they would prevent it lying close; but the hood forces 

 itself through these feathers in a succession of regular steps, 

 and every feather forming the hood should grow towards the 

 beak. Sometimes the feathers on one side will grow towards 

 the other, and so form a twisted hood, more or less faulty. The 

 head feathers will often prove too strong for the hood, and cause 

 it to stick up, which spoils the bird ; and there are altogether so 

 many difficulties in getting a perfectly formed hood, that to 

 obtain one naturally perfect, and which requires no faking 

 whatever, is half the battle in producing a good pigeon of this 

 variety. Supposing the formation of the hood to be right, its 

 position is next to be considered. Some commence low down 

 on the nape, and cannot, in consequence, come far enough 

 forward. Such a hood, often plastered down at the back of 

 the h^ad, is not what is wanted; it ought to grow well for- 

 ward at the back of the head, and it will then, in a long- 



