112 Fancv Pio-eo/is. 



CHAPTER XLI. 



THE LACE PIGEON. 



The lace pisfeon is another variety, distingaiished, like tlie frizzled and 

 frillback pigeons, by the peculiar formation of its featliera. It has its 

 prototype in the silky fowl of China and Japan, which early travellers 

 called a fowl bearing hair or wool on its body instead of feathers. This 

 pigeon was unknown to Moore, and was first described in our pigeon 

 literature in the Treatise, where a very good plate of it may be seen. It 

 is described as white in colour, turn crowned, and valued on account of 

 its scarcity, and the peculiarity of its feathers, "the fibres, or web of 

 which, appear disunited from each other throughout their whole plumage, 

 and not in the least connected, as in common with all other pigeons, 

 where they form a smooth close feather." 



The lace pigeon, which is known in France as the Pigeon Soir (silky 

 pigeon), and in Germany as the Seidcnliaartauhe (silken-haired pigeon), 

 is of much the same size and bearing as the common field pigeon. It is 

 almost always pure white in colour, and generally smooth headed. It 

 has its name from its peculiar feathering, the fibres of all its feathers 

 having no adhesion, but being disunited and appearing as if every second 

 one had been cut out. The wing coverts, and quill and tail feathers, with 

 their long fringed rays, have given it its English name of lace pigeon. 

 It is not so hairy or woolly in appearance as the silky fowl, but more like 

 the produce of that fowl when crossed with a common one. Its legs and 

 feet are either quite smooth or slightly feathered ; its irides are dark 

 hazel. Being unable to fly, it must be kept in confinement, and under 

 special conditions. However interesting as an object of curiosity, it 

 presents little variation in its form or feather, and consequently it will 

 be always rather uncommon. It has the power of somewhat reproducing 

 its peculiarity when crossed with other pigeons, and the French have a 

 half bred looking fantail, called the pigeon tremhleur paon de .wie, from 

 which the Scotch lace fantail, to be afterwards noticed, has been 

 perfected. 



The frizzled, frillback, and lace pigeons, are examples of natural sports 



