CHAPTER XII. 



THE HELMET PIGEON. 



The pigeon known at present as the helmet, is a German tumbler. 

 Neumeister describes it under the name of Der Farlenpldttige Tiimmler 

 oder die Calottentauhe (coloured crested tumbler, or calotte pigeon), and 

 says that it has long been bred in the greatest perfection in Hamburg. 

 The helmet is of the size of our ordinary flying tumblers, and is 

 similarly formed in head, beak, and body. The upper mandible is 

 coloured, the lower white ; the head is black, blue, red, or yellow ; the 

 tail, with its coverts, matching the same. The line of demarcation of the 

 helmet or coloured cap should run through the eye, as it were, and dip 

 somewhat at the back of the head. The iris should be as pearly white 

 as possible. The helmet is generally smooth-headed and clean-legged, but 

 Brent mentions a variety with feathered legs and feet, and says that 

 these are coloured from the hocks down to match the head and tail. 

 Neumeiater says that some are hooded, and that such are more valued, 

 having an additional beauty to commend them to the breeder. 



Willoughby refers to helmets as follows : "In these the head, tail, and 

 quill feathers of the wings are always of one colour, sometimes white, 

 sometimes black, red, yellow, or blue ; the rest of the body of another, 

 different from that, whatever it be. These are called Helme by the Low 

 Dutch, as Aldrovandiis writes, from the relation of the foremeutioned 

 Dutchman." 



I am inclined to think the above refers to what we now understand as 

 nuns and baldheads, though he does not speak of the shell crests of the 

 former ; but his meagre descriptions, given principally from mere hear- 

 say, are not always to be depended on. 



