The Mahomet. 121 



nails are black, the feet and legs bright red, sometimes stockinged, 

 but I much prefer them smooth. Although of such a beautiful light blue, 

 or what is called a French white tint on the surface, the neck and body 

 feathers are dark bluish black underneath when exposed ; but this must 

 not assert itself when the bird is at liberty. This beautiful colouring is 

 not confined entirely to the Mahomet, as the same feather, or nearly so, 

 may be found among the ice pigeons, but what makes the former of 

 such an original type is the dark eye wattles. It would almost seem to 

 be related to the owl race of pigeons as well, as it has a very pronounced 

 gullet and seam, or division down the breast, though no actual frill. 



This distinction, and the shape of its head, make it a likely cross 

 for the blue owl, which I know was tried with success in the case 

 of the one I had ; but I shall refer to this again. 



It is a pity that the Mahomet is so scarce, for although it has not in 

 its composition what would make it, even though plentiful, only to be 

 seen of high quality now and then, as the pouter or turbit, it would be 

 a beautiful and telling variety in an aviary of different kinds, and 

 likely to breed very true to its characteristics. I know the one I had 

 was often picked out by strangers as the moat beautiful pigeon in my 

 place. 



The Mahomet shows the powdered blue colour in the very highest 

 degree, and it has the power of reproducing its colour to a great extent 

 when crossed with a blae or silver pigeon. 





