IJl 



in the collections of the rich and curious, who have always large cages, or a distinct 

 aviary built on purpose for them. It is a very scarce and dear bird, and in our opinion 

 one of the greatest curiosities of the Pigeon kind, therefore, for the satisfaction of our 

 readers, we shall give a particular description of it. 



254. (GiKTiN.) — This Pigeon in size is rather less than the common Swallow ; the 

 sides of the head are yellow, but the top and the space round the eyes are of an ash 

 colour ; it has a blueish ash-coloured beak, and the irides of its eyes are of a fine white ; 

 the extreme feathers on each side of the head and neck are red, and there are blue 

 feathers about the rise of the wings ; the hind part of the neck and back ai-e brown, 

 and the extremities of the feathers black ; those on the shoulders are lighter, and varie- 

 gated at the ends with black and white. The first and last covert feathers are black, 

 but are white on their external edges ; the long feathers of the wings are black, the 

 edges of which are tipped with white ; and the belly and breast are of a lovely pale rose 

 colour. The tail, which is composed of twelve feathers, is a mixture of dusky and 

 bright ; the legs and feet are red, and the claws black. 



POECELAIN PIGEON. 



255. (Eaton.) — There are many other varieties of Pigeons, which MoORE, Mayor, 

 or GiRTiN do not mention, viz. the Magpie, the common Runt, the Archangel, the Porce- 

 lain, the An twerps, &c., &c. The Magpie Pigeon resembles the Magpie in feather, 

 from which it derives its name. The common Rvmts are as familiar with us as the House- 

 Sparrow, which you will observe at a country inn on the road side, and kept on farms. 

 It is somewhat different with the Archangel ; they are not so common as the common 

 Runts, but, as regards head and beak, I think not superior. What Fanciers intend 

 doing with this bird 1 am at a loss to know ; whether they intend to breed it down to 

 the Tumbler's head and beak, or carry it out to the Carrier's head and beak, leaving it 

 as they found it, is not progressing ; as it is, it will scarce bear looking at, except it is for 

 its feather, which are such quiet colours. With regard to Porcelain Pigeons, I never saw 

 but one pair, black ground and most beautifully mottled ; differently mottled to the 

 black mottled Tumbler ; they were in a basket, placed rather high and out of my reach, 

 and, writing from memory, the Fancier has his work to do if he intends to make it a 

 valuable bird and cause it to be admired by the gentlemen of the Fancy. The best 

 thing I think he can aim at is to cross it with a Carrier, and by perseverance, in 

 time, to obtain the Carrier with its beautiful formed, long-faced, straight, narrow head, 

 with a dent in the centre, retaining the beautiful mottled plumage of the Porcelain. 

 Unless this or something else is done with this bird, it will not be thought anything 

 more of by good Fanciers than the Archangels. With regard to what there is in a 

 name, I do not think it is correct to suppose, because a bird is called an Archangel, 

 it must follow that it came from Russia ; or because a Pigeon is called an Antwerp, it 

 must ot necessity be originally bred at Antwerp (more in its place when I come to 

 give an account of the Antwerp Pigeon) ; for instance, if a captain of a vessel from 

 California, or any of the new discoveries in South Australia, he being a little bit of a 

 Fancier only about the edges, seeing Pigeons, or something he thought had a resem- 

 blance to Pigeons, but something rather peculiar to Pigeons, the captain considering 

 the vast amount of trouble he has had in bringing this pair of birds from Australia, is 

 determined to get rid of them on the first opportunity ; his vessel arriving at the 

 London ports, and taking them into the best markets he is aw^are of, (say Leadenhall 

 for argument sake) ; when he has ascertained the highest price that the most respect- 

 able dealers will give him for this pair of birds, he hopes he will forgive himself if ever 

 he attempts to bring another pair. This is pardonable in a sailor, who understands 

 more of nautical matters than Pigeons ; I consider it unpardonable in Fanciers, who 

 know better, for attempting to prodouce "mongrels," which they ought to be ashamed 

 of ; and it is a question if they are not ashamed ; in many of the nondescript mongrels 

 we see are bred by Fanciers, as I observed before, they ought to be ashamed, which 

 only bother betters Fanciers as to what class they belong or what name to call them. 

 When they have accomplished their purpose of breeding an extra ugly mongrel, if 

 hood-headed, I have no doubt they will name them after priests. I shaU not be sur- 

 prised if they were to call them Rabbi's, Cardinals, or Popes. Enough of writing on 

 the follies of a few Fanciers, who know better ; I will particularly call your attention. 



