103 



241. — During his sickness, he much complained of the bit which he 

 had taken at Chaibar, telling those that came to visit him, that he had felt 

 the torments of it in his body ever since, and that at times it brought on 

 him very dolorous pains, and that then it was going to break his very 

 heart strings. And when among others, there came to see him the mother 

 of Basher, who died on the spot, of that poison, he cried out, O mother 

 of Basher, the veins of my heart are now breaking of the bit which I eat 

 with your son at Chaibar : so that it seems notwithstanding the intimacy 

 which he pretended with the angel Gabriel, and the continual revelations 

 which he bragged that he received from him, he could not be preserved 

 from thus perishing by the hands of a silly girl. 



COLUMBA riMBEIATA. The Turhit, 



242. — The reason, why this pigeon is named by the English, I cannot 

 by any means account for ; the low Dutch call it cort-beke, (*) or short- 

 bill, upon account of the shortness of its beak. 



243. — It is a small Pigeon very little bigger than a Jacobine, its beak 

 is very short like a partridge, and the shorter the better ; it has a round 



* 242. (GiETiN, p. 95.) — ^From corruption of the word cortbeck, or cortbete, as it is 

 called by the Dutch, which word seems to be originally derived from the French court- 

 bee, and sigaifies a short bill, for which this Pigeon is remarkable. 



243. (Eaton.) — This is a remarkably neat and compact bird, and were it not that 

 they breed so true to their markings as regards feather, much more would be thought 

 of them. By selecting the best, and breeding from the best of their young, and working up 

 to a high standard, I think the difficulty would not be insurmountable, that of placing a 

 head on the Turbit equal to that on the Almond Tumbler. I am of opinion it would 

 rank the fourth toy Pigeon, being a particularly neat, small and pleasing bird. The 

 small amount of difficulty in breeding this Pigeon, owing to their breeding so true 

 to their markings, with little judgment of the Fancier. Under these circumstancs, 

 I think the Tnunpeter should rank before the Turbit. Should a Tumbler Fancier have 

 brought the Tumbler to as near a state of perfection that he can proceed no further, 

 and is desirous, for a change, to try his hand at something else, I would advise him 

 to try all he knows of the five properties of the Tumbler, with the exception of feather, 

 upon the pretty neat-shouldered Turbit ; I think it would soon yield, and then would 

 beyond all doubt rank the fourth Pigeon among toys. 



243. (Beent.) — The English name of this Pigeon is not satisfactorily accounted 

 for. Mr. L. A, Meall suggests its derivation from the Latin participle turhatus, as 

 applicable to its frill or ruffle. To me it seems a corruption of the old English word 

 Talbot, or shield-bearer, from the shield-like marks it bears on its wings. 



243. (Brent.) — The Germans call them "Moven-Tauben," under which name 

 both the Turbit and Owl Pigeons are included. The Turbit is separately known as 

 *' Schildchen," or " Lutticher-Schildchen," or "Brief-trager," which means the little 

 shield of Lifege, or Lifege Letter-carrier, which latter designation is equally applicable 

 to the Owl Pigeon. As I did not meet with any of this variety in France, I do not 

 know their French name. 



243. (Brent.) — The Turbits are a very pretty variety of Fancy Pigeons ; they are 

 small, plump, compact-made birds, of rounded form and engaging appearance ; their 

 beaks are short and thick, their eyes large and prominent, of a very dark brown or 

 black colour ; their heads broad and rather angular ; they are usually smooth-crowned, 

 though some are point-headed, and others have tolerable hoods ; beneath the beak the 

 skin is slightly extended, and a little resembling the dewlap of the bull. Taking off 

 the abrupt or angular jimction between the beak and the neck, this is called the gullet; 

 on the lower part of the neck and crop a seam of feathers stands up and turns various 



