202 Fancy Pigeons. 



comparing the pictnros of the jaoobin and almond tumbler in the Trea- 

 tise, the former is all we want in head and beak, the latter a mere long- 

 faced common tnmbler. Nothing could be more erroneous than to say, 

 as Brent and others have said, that a short-faced baldhead with a 

 jacobin's hood and chain would Ibe the perfect jacobin. It might be a 

 pretty pigeon, but it would be the very opposite of a jacobin in many 

 ways. 



The properties of the jacobin are size, shape, carriage, head, beak, eye, 

 legs and feet, quality of feather, hood, chain, tippet, rose, mane, colour, 

 and marking. It must not be inferred that I consider them valuable in 

 the order named. I shall merely describe what I consider a perfect 

 bird, and no bird can be considered very good which is not fairly well 

 up in aU points. The same remarks must be held to apply to my 

 descriptions of all other varieties. 



Size. — There is considerable difference in size among jacobins. When 

 other things are equal, the smaller pigeon is to be preferred. By equal, 

 I mean equal in proportion to size. 



Shape. — The neck ought to be long. This is a grand property, the 

 effect of which can easily be seen by comparing different birds together. 

 The body ought to bo long and narrow in girth. A well-bred jaoobin, 

 which weighs the same or even rather more than a pigeon of another 

 variety, wiU easily force its way through the bars of a cage which will 

 effectually confine the latter. I have seen this illustrated in the case of 

 a very small African owl and jacobin, the latter being much the heavier 

 pigeon of the two, which gives a good idea of the difference in shape 

 between the two varieties. 



Carriage. — A jacobin of the best type, whose head is well smothered in 

 hood and chain, is unable to see well about it. Such birds have a groping 

 way of going about, and endeavour by stretching their necks to see over 

 those chain feathers which obscure their vision. Some of the longest- 

 chained birds are, consequently, aU the better for being clipped ab mt the 

 eyes during the breeding season, like the best trumpeters. The real 

 carriage of the jacobin is seen when the cook is driving the hen to 

 nest. The head is carried well up, and the chain will then lap over in 

 front, if it ever will. 



Head. — The head very broad across the crown, and well rounded 

 off over the eyes. There should be a little tuft of feathers d'-o- 



