iS6 Fancy Pigeons. 



out further change. A bird whioh moulted into a fair mottle, always 

 came out of the nest entirely black, or with only a few gi-izzlcd feathers on 

 the wing corcrts. If there was much white on a nestling, it generally got 

 very gay, and some would become half white when almost black in the 

 nest. I never saw a bird get darker during its first moult. 



Quality of Feather. — The choice trumpeter should belong and loose 

 in feather, the flights should reach beyond the tail, and all the feathers 

 should be soft and silky in texture. 



Size. — The actual size of the trumpeter should be above the average of 

 fancy pigeons, the larger the better, as if rose, &c., are in proportion, 

 large size adds to its appearance. 



Shape and Carriaije. — The appearance of a good bird ia that of a very 

 low standing, broad-set, short-necked pigeon, almost close to the ground, 

 unable to see about it, except in a downward direction ; it gropes about 

 from place to place and is fond of retiring into corners, where it drums 

 to its mate. 



Voice. — One of the chief pleasures in keeping trumpeters is to hear their 

 pleasant notes. They are, with their sub-varieties and the laughers, the 

 musicians of the Columbarium. I wotdd think little of a bird, however 

 good in fancy points, if quite deficient in voice ; and, although it cannot 

 be taken into account in judging at a show, it should be carefully cultivated 

 in the loft. Many of the old breed were capital drummers and kept up a 

 constant concert in their lofts ; but many of the new ones are very deficient 

 in vocal powers, which is perhaps the reason they left their native place. 

 I knew of one, not long ago, which had no more voice than a common 

 tumbler, if it had as much. The trumpeter's voice does not seem to 

 have been cultivated so well in this country as in Germany. From 

 Neumcister and Priitz I find what constitutes a good drummer there — 

 " Excited by anger or love, its voice falls directly, or from the usual cooing 

 — which, however, must rarely be heard in a good drum pigeon — sud- 

 denly into that rolling, quivering, deep hollow drumming ; at the same 

 time — mostly sitting still — moving the beak, puffing up its crop a 

 little — the less the better — moving to and fro the front part of its body, 

 and trembling with its wings. For correct drummiug there are required a 

 good beginning, a distinctly marked delivery, alternate risiug and falling of 

 the sound, shaking, and sustaining. The more frequently, and especially the 

 more sustainedly without stopping, it drums in good style, the more 



