106 CARICATUEE. TURBITS. [CHAP. iv. 



a quick rise, &c., and a spindle beak, the shorter the 

 better, like that of a Tumbler, and a pearl eye. In 

 regard to the feather, there are various coloured ones, 

 such as reds, blues, mottled, blacks, and yellows ; the 

 preference of which seems to be given to the last 

 mentioned ; but whatever colour they are of, they 

 should have a clean white head, with a white flight and 

 white tail. Some of them have feathers on their legs 

 and feet, others have none ; and both sorts are equally 

 esteemed according to the different inclinations of those 

 who fancy them. 



" The following being in itself so uncommon, and a 

 fact, I cannot help taking notice of it ; a person the 

 other day passing through Fleet Street, seeing a print 

 of this bird at a shop-window, stopped to make his 

 observations thereon, and having well viewed it, he 

 went in and purchased it, declaring to the seller, that 

 he never saw a stronger likeness in his life ; and as for 

 the wig, it was exactly the same he always wore. For 

 he imagined it altogether a caricature of one of his 

 intimate acquaintance; and the person of whom he 

 bought it, did not think it necessary at that time to 

 undeceive him." 



The TURBIT* is the breed which the French 

 writers have supposed to be the most isolated of the 

 domestic races, and to have greater claims than any of 

 them to specific distinction. I cannot say that my 



* " Turbits, of the meaning and original of which name I must 

 confess myself to be ignorant. They have a very short thick bill, 

 like a Bullfinch ; the crown of their head is flat and depressed ; the 

 feathers on the breast reflected both ways. They are about the 

 bigness of the Jacobines, or a little bigger. I take these to be the 

 Candy or Indian Doves of Aldrovand, the Low Dutch Cortbeke." 

 Willughby. 



