The Runt. 105 



Boitard and Corbie mention several varieties of the PigeoTis Romains 

 distinct in colour and marking, some o£ the most beautiful being 

 described as follows : 



Pigeon Bomain MantelS. — All red except the shoulders or mantle, 

 as in a turbit, which is white. Brent mentions them under the name of 

 Tigre rouge. The white mantle probably appears only after the first 

 moult. 



Figeon Remain Marcanu. — Always black or dun {miniyne), the head 

 having a mixture of white feathers, giving it a grey appearance ; irides 

 pearl. 



Pigeon Romain Gris Piquete. — One of the largest of the race ; irides 

 yellow ; plumage grey, chequered with black over the body, d piquetures 

 plus rapprochees siir la gorge ; feet lightly stockinged. 



Pir/eon Romain Mininie CaillouU. — Its colour is dun or tan, with the 

 edge of the feathers of the mantle and throat of a pale hue, drawing to 

 a clear fire colour ; smooth legs and feet ; pearleyes. It is very pro- 

 ductive. 



Pigeon Romain Soupe-de-lait. — The smallest of the race. It has a 

 thiokish membrane on the nostrils, a cere round the eyes, and yellow 

 irides. Its feet are bare ; its plumage is the colour of cafe-au-lcdt, with 

 two bars of a deeper colour on the wings. This very pretty pigeon has 

 also the essential quality of being tolerably productive. 



Pigeon Romain Argente. — Head fond white, mixed with a clear slate 

 colour ; neck and throat bluish black, reflecting green and metallic ; the 

 mantle of a bluish grey tinted with white, each feather darker at the base, 

 with a light white border. Flights of a blackish grey, barred with clear 

 grey ; tail slate colour, with a black bar ; pearl eyes. This superb bird 

 is generally very productive. 



The Montauban pigeon is a variety of the runt, but not so heavy, 

 though a large bird. It is chiefly black or white, but sometimes blue, 

 brown, and mottled. It has a large shell crest, which should extend from 

 ear to ear, and the legs are generally feathered. 



Brent says that the largest pigeons he ever saw were some white ones, 

 with long feathers on the feet, that came from Belgium, and were called 

 Norwegians. He says, " As I cannot give their exact size and weight, I 

 forbear to state my ideas." 



Moore says : " There are other sorts of runts, as the Eoman runt, which 



