CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE MAGPIE PIGEON. 



The magpie pigeon, now a general favourite in this country on account 

 of the telling and nicely contrasted disposition of the white and coloured 

 parts of its plumage, is, like the helmet, a variety of German tumbler 

 (Dei- Elstertilmmler). It goes by the name of Copenhagen tumbler in the 

 north of Germany, and is said to be found good in Hamburg. It is 

 among the varieties regularly imported into this country from Germany, 

 and is found in all the chief colours. Among magpies there is a con- 

 siderable difference in length of face, some being like neat medium-faced 

 flying tumblers, while others are very much run out in beak. I never 

 heard of any fixed standard as to the beak. Some prefer it long, like 

 the rock pigeon, while others like the tumbler type. Brent, in his 

 writings, complains of fanciers breeding them coarse and mousey. In 

 plate 7 of Neumeister's book are illustrations of four magpies, a black, 

 blue, red, and yellow. They are all in shape of body and in head and 

 beak like medium-faced flying tumblers. It is not in a certain length of 

 face that the points of the magpie are found, and it is absurd to see one 

 style winning at one show, then discarded aa not the correct type at the 

 next. So it would be right to fix a standard for the guidance of all, 

 lest ultimately we may be troubled with two classes, if not three, 

 should a school arise whose standard may be something between the two. 

 In my opinion, the pleasant faced tumbler type, both in shape of body 

 and in head and beak, is correct, and should be preferred, other things 

 being equal ; but it is the marking that is the chief thing in this 

 variety. 



The magpie is to be had in black, red, yellow, blue, silver, and off 



