72 Fancy Pigeons. 



Moore, after describing the nun, mentions the helmet as being similar 

 to it, except that it has no hood, and says that it is generally gravel- 

 eyed. This breed of helmet pigeon seems to have become extinct in 

 England. Being evidently only a plain-headed nun, a part of that beau- 

 tiful pigeon, so to speak, there is no reason why we should wish it 

 restored. 



On the introduction of the German calotte, the name helmet was no 

 doubt given it as being quite appropriate and "to let" at the time, no 

 other variety claiming it. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE COLOURED HEADED PIGEON. 



A VARIETY closely allied to the nun and helmet in marking is the 

 German Farhenho-pjige Tauhc, or coloured headed pigeon, also known as 

 the hartif/e or bearded pigeon, from its bib, which is not, however, of the 

 tumbler type in formation of head and beak. Neumeister describes 

 them as rather larger than the common field pigeon. They are found of all 

 the principal feathers, and the beak and toenails correspond to the colour 

 of the markings. The black variety has the special name of the 

 Mohrenkopf (Moor's head), while others are blue head, yellow head, 

 and so on. The head is broadly hooded and the iris, Neumeister says, 

 ought to be dark, but is generally yellow, just as when a pearl eye is 

 demanded, it often comes dark. The whole head is coloured, the shell 

 hood included, though it is white in his illustration, and the colour runs 

 down the breast, forming a bib. The tail, with its coverts, is coloured, 

 and the rest of the bird white. The feet and legs are generally 

 smooth, but sometimes feathered. He describes an unhooded variety, 

 which must have a narrow white stripe dividing the coloured head at the 

 nape, finishing at the back of the head. 



Boitard and Corbie describe a similar variety to the above under the 

 name of ■pigeon coqidlle harhu ; and still another, the pigeon coqnille Tete 

 de Morte, or death's head shell pigeon, which has only the head and bib 

 black, all the rest being pure white. It has clean legs and pearl eyes. 



