CHAPTER LIX. 



THE GERMAN ANCIENT PIGEON. 



The German Altstdvimer, or ancient, is a very beautiful variety, which 

 bears something of the same relation to certain German breeds of common 

 tumblers that our short-faced almonds, mottles, and baldheads do to our 

 common flying tumblers. And as our short-faces were certainly produced 

 in London, so the high class ancient was produced in Berlin, the metropolis 

 of Germany. It is to Mr. O. Neef, of Forest Hill, a member of the 

 National Peristeronic Society, that we are indebted for introducing the 

 ancient — rare in its native place — into this country. He informed me 

 that his father was formerly one of the fanciers and breeders of this 

 pigeon, the origin of which is unknown ; but which, from its name, is 

 considered a very old variety, and which was for long confined to Berlin, 

 though now bred also in Stettin. It is only incidentally mentioned in 

 the latest edition of Neumeiater's " Das Ganze der Taubenzucht," edited 

 by Priitz (1870); but more fully describedin ''Die Arten dcr Haustaube," 

 by Priitz {1S7S). It is there said to be found in all whole colours, 

 except blue. He says: *' There are self-coloured black, red, yellow, and 

 white ; black, red, and yellow with white wings ; also mottled, and as 

 a very much admired kind, the magpie coloured." The magpie marked 

 ancients, in black, red, and yellow, as I saw them lately in the possession 

 of Mr. Neef, are medium sized pigeons, larger than our short-faces, smooth 

 headed, and stocking legged. The head is broad and rather flat, the fore- 

 head very broad and well ribbed up, the beak very short and thick, and 

 nearly as broad at the base as it is long. The beak wattle is moderate 

 but not rough, the eye wattle bright red, and as large as a silver fourponny 

 piece, round and flat, not standing out like a barb's. The eye is prominent 

 and of a clear pearl colour. The carriage is very upright, the head 

 thrown back, the breast prominent and broad, the flights well up over the 



