POINTS OF THE JACOBIN. 161 



at least moderately short-faced Baldhead, though somewhat low- 

 cut may be permitted. The beak should also point slightly down- 

 ward. Shortness of face has been much neglected, a coarseness 

 of head and length of beak having crept in and altered the bird 

 for the worse ; but there can be no doubt that the head ori- 

 ginally grafted on the Jacobin was that of a Baldhead Tumbler, 

 and any one who shall breed up this property without losing the 

 others will assuredly reap reward. The eyes are also pearl ; and 

 from the same parentage is derived the points of white nights 

 and tail. About thighs opinion is divided. Brent says white, 

 as in Baldheads ; while Fulton prefers coloured, for the very 

 reason that such differs from the Baldhead, but allows that the 

 point is secondary either way. As such we prefer to leave it, 

 with the remark that the question is very closely connected with 

 that of flights, about which there is the same difficulty of getting 

 all white as in Baldheads and Beards, many high-cut Jacobins 

 having only seven or less a side. On the contrary, a bird lower cut, 

 with clean thighs, often has white flights ; and for this reason 

 low-cut have usually to be matched with high-cut birds to keep up 

 flight properties. There is very little difficulty in other respects 

 in regard to colour, red and yellow being usually very rich 

 and good in Jacks. Blues were unknown at one time, but were 

 obtained by crossing with BaldTieads, and are now occasionally 

 seen very good ; and blacks have been shown of very excellent 

 quality. The best blacks we know of have been bred from 

 red crosses, which often produce strawberry birds in the first 

 place, these being matched back to blacks again. Whole- 

 coloured whites, blues, and some other colours have also 

 been shown, but ought not to rank so high, having no flight 

 difficulties to contend with. 



The most important property in a Jacobin is hood, or the 

 portion of re-curved feathers which come over the top of the 

 head. The hood must come as far forward, fit as flat down on 

 the head, and be as even at the edge as possible. A gdod hood 



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