The Latz. 



75 



legged specimens, to be found among this breed. The black variety 

 generally retains some colour on the white parts, from which it derives 

 the special name of Eusstmibe or soot pigeon. 



There are also breast pigeons having the said marking reversed, the 

 head, neck, and breast being white, and the rest of the feathers coloured. 

 It may therefore be reckoned that, with the variations of smooth and 

 feathered legs, smooth, peaked, and shell-created heads, the reversing of 

 the markings, and the four principal colours, that there are no less than 

 forty-eight variations of this breed alone, which gives some idea of how 

 vast a number of varieties of domestic pigeons there are in the world. 



Brent calls this pigeon the white Archangel, in addition to its usual 

 name. Being found of other colours than yellow or copper, however, the 

 name is not appropriate, and besides, the bronze breast of the Archangel 

 goes no further than the ends of its feathers ; underneath they are 

 black. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE LATZ PIGEON. 



The German ia<3, signifying bodice or stomacher pigeon, also called 

 in Germany the latz shell pigeon of Holland and helmet pigeon, is of the 

 size and type of the field pigeon, and a good flyer and breeder. Its head 

 is adorned with a peculiar helmet or large shell hood, not found so marked 

 in any other species. From the back of its head to half way down the 

 back of its neck the feathers run up and to the side, forming an exten- 

 sive hood. They do not lie closely and in a mass, but loosely and ia 

 disorder. The beak accords with the colour of the marking. Blues, 

 reds, and yellows, according to Neumeister, seem to have died out, while 

 the blacks are frequently to be found under the name Wiener latztauhen, 

 Vienna bodice pigeons. The head, front and sides of the neck and 

 breast, as shown in the illustration, are coloured, giving the appearance 

 of a coloured bodice, from which the bird derives its name. The rest of 

 the plumage, including all the shell feathers, is white. The eye is said 

 to have a brownish black iris, but is yellow in Neumeister' s illustration, 



