no 



THE LACE PIGEON. 



251. (Mayor, p. 143.) — This bird is, I believe, originally bred in Holland, where, 

 I am informed, there are great numbers ; though not one that I know of to be seen 

 in England at present. It is in size rather less than a common Runt, and like it in 

 shape and make ; though I once saw a Shaker of this kind ; their colour is white, and 

 they are valued on account of their scarcity and the peculiarity of their feathers, the 

 fibres or web of which appear disunited from each other throughout their whole plum- 

 age, and not in the least connected, as in common with all other Pigeons, where they 

 form a smooth close feather. 



251. (Eaton.) — I cannot say I admire this bird, for I cannot find any style in it. In 

 shape it does not appear better than our common house Runts ; I have seen several of 

 them but always white, their lace feathers lying so close to their bodies, do not appear 

 so truly beautiful as the broad-tailed Fantail. 



251. (Brent.) — This curious variety of domestic Pigeon is very scarce ; their chief 

 peculiarity consists in the webs of their feathers being disunited, like the plumage of 

 the silky fowls, and from which cause their powers of flight are much curtailed ; the 

 few that I have seen have always been white, and had much the appearance of half- 

 bred Fantails ; and I have read that in both France and Holland Faxitails are to be 

 met with, with this beautiful lacy or silky plumage. In the old Treatise on Pigeons, 

 the plate of this variety represents a Pigeon of common shape and turned crown. 



THE FRILL BACK. 



252. (Mayor, p. 144.) — Is something less in size than a Dragoon, and in shape like 

 the common Runt ; their colour generally (if not always) white ; and what is chiefly 

 remarkable in them is, the turn of their feathers, which appear as if every one dis- 

 tinctly had been raised at the extremity with a small round pointed instrument, in such 

 manner as to form a small cavity in each of them. 



252. (GiRTiN, p. 107.) — Or, as if the bird had been under the hands of some of our 

 modern hair-dressers, and had its plumage frizzed and curled at the ends. It is iu 

 size less than the common Runt, though very much like it in shape ; and its plumage 

 is always white. 



252. (Brent.) — This curious variety of Fancy Pigeon is very rare in England, 

 though they are more frequently to be met with in Saxony. They are about the size 

 and make of a dovohouse Pigeon, with a turned crown ; the plumage is white, and the 

 eyes should be gravelly red ; their chief peculiarity consists in the feathers, each of 

 which is raised at the extremity so as to form a small conical hollow, which gives the 

 plumage the appearance of having been gofered or raised by a fine pair of curling tongs. 

 They are light and quick in their flight, but are easily tamed. Mr. Moore also de- 

 scribes the Friesland Runt, which must not be confused with the Frill Back. " This 

 Pigeon," he says, "comes from Friesland, and is one of the larger sort of middle- 

 sized Runts ; its feathers stand aU reverted." Most probably like the plumage of the 

 frizzled fowls, which are also brought from Friesland. 



THE SMITER. 



253. (Girtin, p. 107.) — This Pigeon, in shape, make and diversity of plumage, 

 nearly resembles the Tumbler, the size excepted, it being a much larger bird. The 

 Smiter is supposed to be the same species that the Dutch call the Drager ; when it 

 flies, it has a peculiar tremulous motion with its wings, and commonly rises in a cir- 

 cular manner, the male, for the generality, flying much higher than the female, and 

 though it does not tumble, it has a particular manner of falling and flabbing its wings, 

 with which it makes so loud a noise as to be heard at a great distance, which is fre- 

 quently the cause of its shattering or breaking its quill-feathers. 



THE CHINESE PIGEON. 



254. (Girtin, p. 108.) — This beautiful little Pigeon is a native of Pekin, in China, 

 and was imported into Europe in some of the Companies' ships ; it is only to be seer 



