CHAP, iv.] COMPARISON OF BREEDS. 149 



usually seen, as well as from its thickly-feathered feet 

 and legs, and the military cut of its head. I quite be- 

 lieve that it received its title of Trumpeter rather on 

 account of the helmet-like crest at the back of the head, 

 and the tuft of feathers at the base of the beak, which 

 have very much the air of well-curled mustachios, than 

 because its coo is specially sonorous or brazen. May 

 not the word Trumpeter be a corruption of the Italian 

 Tronfo, or Runt ? Temminck includes the Trumpeter 

 in his brief account of the Pigeon Romain, or Runt, the 

 Columba hispanica of Latham. He says, " Some of these 

 are found rough-footed, with very long feathers on their 

 toes, which seem to incommode the bird in its move- 

 ments ; others are tufted, the only difference being in 

 the feathers of the occiput, which are turned and set 

 up." 



These have great claims on our favour from their 

 classical associations : Turbits, Nuns, and Tumblers are 

 both pretty and profitable ; but the Pigeon of greatest 

 interest, a pure flock of which is almost an aristocrati- 

 cal appendage to a mansion, is the bird which stands at 

 the head of the following chapter. 



