100 



wattle, and a naked circle of tuberous red flesh round the eyes, whose 

 irides are of a pearle colour, the broader and redder the flesh is, the more 

 the bird is valued, though it is very narrow when the bird is young, and 

 does not come to its full growth till they are four years old. Some of 

 them have a tuft of feathers on the hinder part of the head, somewhat like 

 a Finnikin, and others not. 



2^4. — Mr. WiLLOUHGBY, in his description of this bird, is guilty of a 

 very great mistake, in imagining the tuberous flesh to be white in some 

 birds of this kind, which it never is, though it will grow pale when the 

 bird is sick ; but when it recovers, always reassumes its wonted redness. 



235. — Their original colour is either black or dun, though there are 

 Pieds of both these feathers, but they are bred from the Barb and Maho- 

 met, and are not so much valued. 



cedence, or rank first of all the toy Pigeons, from the great difficulty there is to breed 

 a good one. It requires great judgment and care to breed a good Barb with a beauti- 

 ful round, broad rose eye, as it is termed, of an equal thickness, like the beautiful eye 

 of some Carriers : it is rarely you see a Barb with an eye as it ought to be, with the 

 large tuberous red flesh round. The head should be extra broad and round ; some 

 Fanciers admire the tufted ; others, smooth-headed. 1 think the tufted is the hardest 

 to breed, and rather bordering on a property. Again, the Barb does not show its pro- 

 perties till it is four years' old. Taking all into consideration, it is my opinion the 

 Barb should take precedence and rank A 1 of all toys, owing to the difficulty to breed 

 a good one. It is not often you see a good one ; therefore I refer you to the portrait of the 

 Barb that will accompany the Work, for your observations and reflections. I cannot 

 help thinking but the blacks look best, the contrast of the red eyes being greater. I 

 cannot say I am an admires of a red eye in a white feathered bird„ 



233. (Brent.) — This variety derives its name from the part of Africa so called, it 

 being reported that it was originally brought from thence. The Germans caU it " Die 

 Indische," or '^Indianische-Taube," that is, Indian Pigeon. I frequently saw them in 

 France, but their French name I have forgotten. 



233. (Brent.) — They are generally smooth-headed, though some are turned-crowned, 

 and a few have a frill on the chest like a Turbit ; their beaks are short, thick, and sur- 

 mounted by a small wattle ; their irides should be a pearl colour, and they have a 

 broad sere round the eyes of a bright red colour ; the broader and evener this circle is 

 the more they are esteemed. 



233. (Beent.) — The smooth-headed blacks I consider the original and purest variety; 

 but there are many other colours, as dun, white, red, yellow, blue, and, I believe, a 

 few mealy ; some are spotted, but the whole-coloured ones are most esteemed. The 

 best I ever had were some red ones I procured at Calais. A gentleman at Calais had 

 also an old black cock that he informed me was brought from the West Indies, and 

 was twenty-years old ; he was a fine old bird, though somewhat duU, most probably 

 from his great age ; the seres round his eyes were very large and pale, having much the 

 appearance of a good Horseman, but the pale colour might be the effect of old age or 

 iU-health. In young birds the sere is small ; they are considered in perfection at 

 four years old. I had some pure white, very good birds, and their red seres contrasted 

 prettily against their beautiful white plumage. 



233. (Brent.) — They are well known in England, but I think the English Fanciers 

 breed them too high, more as one would wish to see a Tumbler in shape, so that their 

 peculiar elongated shape is much shortened, if not altogether lost. They are light on 

 the wing, but not strong flyers. The Continental Barbs are more to my Fancy as 

 Barbs. I admire the short compact form of an Almond Tumbler in that hird, but 

 not in a Barb. The Continental birds I consider of a more natural shape, somewhat 

 peculiar to that variety ; they are stouter necked, wider shouldered, and have rather 



