291 WATTLED PIGEONS. 



blackish Colour, which is generally the more valued." At 

 the present time, the whiter they are in the colour of the 

 wattles the better they are liked. Pigeons of brilliant colour 

 are generally inclined to run reddish in the flesh round the 

 eyes, and Carriers are occasionally seen so marked in this 

 respect that very good ones have been distinguished as "red 

 eyed." Many have decidedly reddish flesh-coloured wattles. 



The usual method in breeding Carriers is to freely cross 

 the black and dun colours. By this means the black is more 

 easily kept good than by constantly breeding blacks together. 

 The dun, which is generally considered an off-colour in most 

 fancy pigeons, though not in Carriers, is mostly of a soft 

 tint, inclined to fade near the end of the season, and pre- 

 senting a very dappled appearance during the moult, till all 

 the feathers are renewed. Neither the bright lavender dun 

 seen in some foreign pigeons, nor the deep glossy dun of the 

 Barb, are common in Carriers. 



Blue Carriers are still inferior in average quality of head 

 points to the blacks and duns, but in size and shape they 

 are sometimes excellent. They fail, however, for the most 

 part, in colour, being often of a dull or dusky blue on the 

 wing coverts, with indistinct or half-obliterated wing-bars. 

 Blues have of late years risen in favour among fanciers, and 

 some superior ones are occasionally to be seen. Considerable 

 attention is being paid to them, and they will, no doubt, con- 

 tinue to improve. 



Silvers are sometimes produced from blues, and have usually 

 the same failing in colour. They are generally hens. The 

 bad colour in blue Carriers is often attributed to crossing 

 with blacks, which is sometimes done to obtain stoutness in 

 head points; but I am of opinion that this bad colour is 

 inherent in the breed, and has always existed since it was 

 introduced, as I have observed the same bad blue colour 

 among the Carriers of Bagdad, the undoubted originals of 

 our Carriers. Black being occasionally bred with blue, and 



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