208 FANCY PIGEONS. 



the short feathers covering the spurious wing white, thus 

 giving a white edging to the margin of the wing when 

 closed. To get the spurious wing coloured, which prevents 

 white butts when the wing is closed, is a very difficult matter, 

 if the bird is quite clean below. Formerly black and blue 

 Turbits had coloured tails, and they often breed young ones 

 with the tail partly so; but the coloured tail is no longer 

 considered desirable. Beds and yellows do likewise; but, in 

 that case, the tail feathers are usually only of a weak half 

 tint. It is only lately, owing to keen competition at the 

 numerous shows, that great attention has been paid to 

 proper marking. Not only in this country, but in others 

 where Turbit-marked frilled pigeons are fancied, foul thighs 

 and vents have been very prevalent, simply because these 

 natural faults have not been considered of grave account. 

 It is no easy matter to eradicate such mismarking when 

 breeding from the strains that have it; but, once this is 

 got rid of, it is comparatively easy to maintain clean thighs 

 and vents in many of the produce. 



The Triganica Pigeon, in addition to coloured wings, has 

 the head, tail, and nights coloured ; and although it is common 

 enough to find this variety foul below, like the majority of 

 Turbits, I found it easy enough to breed many quite clean- 

 thighed and vented birds of this breed, by commencing with 

 such as were free from these faults. 



I have stated that I have crossed the African Owl and 

 Turbit, and have mentioned my reasons for doing so. I 

 commenced by matching a very fine green-glossed black 

 Turbiteen cock to a pure white African Owl hen, and from 

 their young ones I selected a very round-headed, white cock, 

 with about half of one shoulder black, which was as much 

 colour as any of the produce possessed, some being pure 

 white. I mated this bird, which was smooth-headed, like 

 both his parents, to a good peak-headed black Turbit hen 

 of Mr. Roper's breed. She was not quite clean below, being 



