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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Angust 10, 1871. 



if there is any fancy wbich possesses greater attractions and 

 interest for the breeder than the one in qaestion. A prettier 

 Bight we are certain it is impossible to gaze upon, than a first- 

 olasB loft of these charming and sprightly little pets, when the 

 plumage is rich and clean, and the colours of the several varie- 

 ties evenly represented. In a great measure we suppose this 

 apparent neglect must be attributed not so much to want of 

 appreciation, as it is to the one eharaoteriatic which they in 

 common with all their Short-faced brethren more or less par- 

 ticipate in. 



In answer to the question often put, " If you admire the 

 varieties so much, why do you not keep tbem ?" the inv»riable 

 answer nearly always comes, " Ob ! because ibey require so 

 much attention and are so difSoult to breed good, even if you 

 can breed them at all." Now, this difficulty of rearing the 

 progeny of all the Short-faces, as we remarked with regard to 



the Almond, is more imaginary than real. The impression 

 seems somehow to have got abroad amongst the fancy of the 

 present day, and serves to turn in another direction the iu- 

 clioaiion of many a fancier, and in nearly every instance with- 

 out a trial. We have only emphatically to repeat that this 

 impression la entirely unfounded, and that if the right system 

 is pursued, the breeding of Short-faces is, so far as our ex- 

 perience goes (and it is not incontiderable), a far easier and 

 more pleai-ing task tbnn the rearing of high-class young 

 Carriers and Pouters. Yet bow many are there who persevere 

 in that direction ! We will, however, say a little more on this 

 fn>int further on, and in the meantime turn to the primary 

 utijeot of these notes. 



In setting forth the points of the two varieties in question, 

 their similarity, with one exception, will render only one de- 

 scription necessary. As colour is in our opinion the most im. 



The Beard. 



portant property, we will commence by remarking that the 

 standards are red, yellow, black, blue, and silver, the latter two 

 possessing the black bar common to all their brethren of these 

 odours. Richness and depth of colour are essential features, 

 and more particularly is this so in reference to the three first- 

 mentioned. To obtain this with the correct marking will be 

 fonnd a task of no easy accomplishment. The eye should be 

 white, or what is termed the " pearl eye," bright and full. In 

 structure the birds should be as small as possible, compact, 

 and short in the body, flights, and tail ; the neck short and 

 tapering into a full broad chest ; the legs short, and the feet 

 small and neat. 



Regarding the shape of the head we have a word or two to 

 say, merely by way of suggestion. As in all Tumblers, it should 

 be as round as possible, with a short, fine, and straight beak. 

 We must confess, however, that it is a matter of surprise to us 

 that no ardent enterprising lover of the Bald and Beard has 

 endeavoured to place upon them the broad and lofty skull of 

 the Almond. That it would enhance their beauty and value 

 we think no one will deny. In this direction we think there if 

 ample scope for improvement; but fanciers of late years do 

 not seem to hold this opinion, very little, if anything, having 

 been done by them to improve the varieties in this particular, 



or, perhaps, we might also add in any other. Small an3 

 beautiful enough in colour and marking we do frequently sea 

 them, but in every other respect they are merely their longer 

 and larger confreres repeated. The answer may, and no doubi 

 will be made, that all this is very fine, and very much more 

 easily talked about than done. But has it not been done with 

 the Almond by our fathers? Why cannot we repeat it in ths 

 Short-faced Bald and Beard. Surely we must not conclude 

 that there are not as much ability and zeal in the fancy now as) 

 there was fifty or one hundred years ago. Veterans tell us so, 

 but we will not believe it, nor that the birds of their yonth far 

 excelled anything of the present day. 



And now as to the markings. The body should be self- 

 coloured ; the first ten flight feathers in each wing, together 

 with the rump, tail, belly, and thighs, of a pure white, as shown 

 in the portraits. And here the similarity in the two varieties 

 terminates and the di^tit)ctive characteristic steps in which 

 gives to each its name. The head of the Baldhead, as far down 

 as the ear nnd just under the lower jaw, should be white; 

 the line of demarcition being clearly and evenly defined, or, 

 as it is termed by fanciers, they must be " clean cut." The 

 head of the Beard is the same colour as the body, but it should 

 have a cresceut-uhaped band, or beard-like marking, of white 



