334 FANCY PIGEONS. 



demarcation between the white and coloured portions of the 

 plumage exact, the bird is understood to be as subject to 

 having its show toilet made as the Nun, or Mottle Tumbler. 

 The beak in blacks, reds, and yellows the chief show colours 

 is preferred to be flesh-coloured, but in the black is often 

 tipped with Yandyke brown. Varieties of the Magpie with 

 peak and shell crests exist on the Continent, but such 

 are in no request here at present. The colours of the Magpie 

 are, for the most part, rich and lustrous, reds being at pre- 

 sent the most deficient in this respect, but they have lately 

 shown signs of improvement. 



The Helmet Pigeon. 



The pigeon known at present as the Helmet is a German 

 Tumbler. Neumeister describes it under the name of Der 

 Farbenplattige Tilmmler oder die Calottentaube (Coloured- 

 headed Tumbler, or Calotte Pigeon), and says that it has long 

 been bred in the greatest perfection in Hamburg. The Helmet 

 is of the size of our ordinary flying Tumblers, and is 

 similarly formed in head, beak, and body. The upper mandible 

 is coloured, the lower white; the head is black, blue, red, or 

 yellow, the tail, with its coverts, matching the same. The line 

 of demarcation of the helmet, or coloured cap, should run 

 through the eye, as it were, and dip somewhat at the back of 

 the head. The iris should be pearly white in colour. The 

 Helmet is generally smooth-headed and clean-legged, but Brent 

 mentions a variety with feathered legs and feet, coloured, he 

 says, from the hocks down, to match the head and tail. 

 Neumeister says that some Helmets are hooded, and that 

 such are more valued, having an additional beauty to commend 

 them to the breeder. 



