156 Fdiicv PigcoJis. 



same markiDg- accompauied by what is known as a handkerchief back, 

 ■which is a V-shaped fi3:ui'e on the back between the shoulders, also com- 

 posed, when right, of single separated white feathers ; while the mottling 

 of the rose pinion is on the wing coverts, the handkerchief back is on 

 the scapnlar feathers. Some admire the rose wing alone, others the 

 compound marking. The chief defect in mottles is an excess of white 

 feathers, and when these are not absolutely in patches, weeding can 

 transform a bird neavlj' right into perfection. Removing a few super- 

 fluous white feathers is not so difficult as supplying some to a wing rather 

 undermarked ; but there are men who will stick at nothing to win some- 

 how, and I have known of a self-coloured bird transformed into a perfect 

 mottle, the white feathers being pasted in. A bird so treated succeeded 

 in winning first prize in a class of mottles at a late Scotch show. There 

 can be no doubt that no pigeon has its toilet made to a greater extent 

 than the show mottle, and that if absolute perfection has been seen, it 

 has been but rarely. 



In breeding mottles, the best plan is to learn first how tho pigeons 

 to be mated have been bred, for as many generations back as can be 

 found out. If they should have descended through some generations of 

 nearly perfectly marked birds, they ought to breed many such them- 

 selves ; but, as the general plan is to mate a self-coloured bird, bred in 

 most cases from a mottle and a self-colour, to a mottle bred in the 

 same way, self-colours and mottles are produced from such mating. Self- 

 nolonrs, therefore, are part of the mottle breeder's stock, and represent 

 more than they appear to do. To put a self-coloured to a gay bird is not 

 the plan that experience has taught as most likely to produce the right 

 marking, for the produce is ever inclined to run too gay. And yet, if the 

 self-colour and mottle matching results in an undue proportion of under 

 marked birds, one rather overmarked must be thrown in oeeasionally. To 

 attain success in mottle breeding, a fancier cannot know too much of the 

 pedigree of his stock Inrds, and the longer he has the strain the better 

 he should be able to produce good ones. 



The young mottle does not leave the nest as it appears after its first 

 moult, but entirely self-coloured. If a bird has even a few grizzled 

 feathers about it as a nestling, it often becomes too white after moult- 

 ing. It is during its first autumnal moult, therefore, that its beauties 

 become apparent, and that is the time when eager eyes are on the watch 



