CHAPTER LXIII. 



THE JACOBIN PIGEON. 



DuKiNO the past few years there has been considerable controversy over 

 this variety, which is one of the choicest in the whole fancy. Such 

 controversy was nothing new, for although it turned on a fresh question 

 regarding what constitutes the true breed, our first writer of note on 

 pigeons — John Moore, himself — clearly indicates that there were differ- 

 ences of opinion in his day about this pigeon. Subsequent writers, 

 mostly imitators of Moore, continued denouncing the jacobins of their 

 time as not the true breed, and there has been no rest for its breeders, 

 as first one, and then another writer, felt called on to declaim in no 

 measured terms against their ideal. As it is in a multitude of witnesses 

 that the truth may be expected to be found, ultimate good is bound to 

 come out of healthy discussion. I will give my ideas on the questions 

 forming the chief differences of opinion later on, and commence with 

 an account of what is known of the jacobin from books. Brent says it 

 ia mentioned by Aldrovandus in his second volume of "Ornithology," 

 as the Colivmba Cypria cumUata. Willnghby, who was indebted to 

 Aldrovandus for a good deal of what he wrote on pigeons, says: 

 " Jacohines, called by the Low Dutch Cappers, because, on the hinder 

 part of the head or nape of the neck, certain feathers reflected upward 

 encompass the head behind, almost after the fashion of a monk's hood 

 when he puts it back to uncover his head. These are called Cyprus 

 pigeons by Aldrovand, and there are of them rough-footed. Aldro- 

 vandus hath set forth three or four, either species or accidental varieties 

 of this kind. Their bill is short, the irides of their eyes of a pearl 

 colour, and the head (as Mr. Cope told us) is all white." It is to be 

 noted that there were bald-headed jacobins before 1676, according to 

 what Mr. Cope, the pouter fancier of Jewin-street, told Willughby. 

 Moore, of course, gives a good account of the jacobin, which was then. 



