CHAP, iv.] JACOBINES. "TOY" PIGEONS. 103 



the Nuns are great favourites, except with those fanciers 

 who are devoted to monstrous Tumblers and Powters. 

 A flock consisting entirely of the black-headed sort has 

 a very pleasing effect ; but one containing individuals of 

 all the procurable varieties of colour, (the arrangement 

 of this on the birds, and their shape, being exactly 

 similar,) would have a very charming appearance. 



I have seen a half-bred Nun and Carrier in which 

 the Nun almost entirely predominated : respective sex 

 of the parents, unknown. 



JACOBINE, Euffled Jack, Ruff, Pigeon carme, Co- 

 lumba cucullata, and Capuchin, are names all appli- 

 cable to the same type of bird, however bred or crossed, 

 and all derived from some reference to ecclesiastical 

 costume*. Where there are Nuns, it is natural to look 

 for Friars in the neighbourhood ; and here they are, 

 only not half so pretty, nor half so good. The Ja- 

 cobines are about the most unproductive of our Pigeons ; 

 they lay small eggs, which they incubate unsteadily, 

 and, if they hatch them, nurse carelessly. It is best to 

 transfer their eggs to some more trustworthy foster- 

 parents. These are included among the Pigeons tech- 

 nically called " toys ; " Tumblers, Powters, and Car- 

 riers being alone considered worthy of the serious 

 attention of fanciers. It is really amusing to read of 



* " Jacobines, called by the Low Dutch, Cappers, because in the 

 hinder part of the head, or nape of the neck, certain feathers re- 

 flected upward encompass the head behind, almost after the fashion 

 of a Monk's hood, when he puts it back to uncover his head. These 

 are called Cyprus Pigeons by Aldrovand, and there are of them 

 rough-footed. Aldrovandus hath set forth three or four either 

 species or accidental varieties of this kind. Their bill is short. The 

 Irides of their eyes of a pearl colour, and the head (as Mr. Cope 

 told us) in all white." Willughby. 



