184 Fancy Pigeons. 



rose of the trumpeter when it is crossed ; but though it doubtless takes a 

 longtime to recover either, it can be done, as in the case of the Altenburg 

 trumpeter, which I shall afterwards describe, and which is superior in 

 voice to the pure breed itself. Could all the pecularities of the breed be 

 well retained, in addition to well defined specific markings, such as white 

 with coloured shoulders, the trumpeter would rank higher in the fancy 

 than at present, when many care not how badly their birds may be 

 mottled, or even splashed, so long as they are good in rose and other points. 

 The fancy points of the trumpeter are rose, crest, eye, leg and foot 

 feather, colour and markmg, quality of feather, size, shape and carriage, 

 and voice. 



Kose is the first property of the trumpeter, and is what makes it dis- 

 tinct from all other pigeons. The priest and other varieties which possess 

 it, do so only in a modified degree, and are supposed to have derived it 

 from this pigeon. The rose is formed by the feathers on the crown of the 

 head growing out from a centre in regular form, like a carnation. In a 

 good bird it will be large enough to form a complete covering to the head, 

 hiding the eyes, reaching nearly to the shell crest, and covering the beak 

 wattle, but not the point of the beak. All the feathers forming the rose 

 should lie well down without any irregularity, and the more circular and 

 even it is at its edges the better. 



Ori.'.^^ is an extensive shell hood, reaching round the back of the head 

 almost from eye to eye, and finishing off at its extremities with an orna- 

 mental turn of the same formation as the ro^. The crest ought to be of 

 a cupped form, reaching over the head, but though wanted as firm and 

 compact as possible, is always more or less loose in texture from the 

 nature of the bird's feather. The feathers forming the crest, and those 

 supporting it, can be moved by the bird at will, and the crest is therefore 

 seen more loose at times than at others. 



Etje. — Though described by the old writers as pearl eyed, the trumpeter 

 was generally red or orange-coloured in the irides immediately before the 

 introduction of the Bokhara breed. The latter have generally fine pearl 

 eyes, regarding which Priitz says, " The fine pearl eyes betray the noble 

 race which exacts admiration from every fancier." 



Leg and Foot Feather. — The legs and feet should be heavily hocked and 

 feathered, and in this property the former birds excelled the first im- 

 portations of the Asian race ; but the latter, from the silkiness of their 



