204 Fancy Pigeons. 



bird, turn np where they meet the forward growing hood, and so fall into 

 the sweep of it, as they would prevent it lying close ; but the hood 

 forces itself through these feathers in a succession of regular steps, and 

 every feather forming the hood should grow towards the beak. Some- 

 times the feathers on one aide will grow towards the other, and so form a 

 twisted hood, more or less faulty. The head feathers will often prove 

 too strong for the hood, and cause it to stick up, which spoils the bird ; 

 and there are altogether so many difficulties in getting a perfectly formed 

 hood, that one naturally perfect, which requires no faking whatever, is 

 half the battle in producing a good pigeon of this variety. Supposing the 

 formation of the hood to be right, its position is next to be considered : 

 some commence low down on the nape, and cannot in consequence come 

 far enough forward. Such a hood, often plastered down at the back of 

 the head, is not what is wanted ; it ought to grow well forward at 

 the back of the head, and it will then, in a long-feathered bird, get as far 

 as the middle of the head, over the eyes ; should lie close, but not as if 

 pasted to the head, a slight space between it and the crown being well 

 liked, It ought also to be regular in its outline, and not be split or 

 divided in its centre, as many are, but be compact, well filled up, and 

 look like a feathered cap reaching over the head to protect it. 



Chain. — The chain or friU is the continuation of the forward-growing 

 hood feathers down each side of the neck. The first difficulty with a good 

 chain is the cheek feathers or whiskers growing out against it and 

 causing irregularity in its shape, to obviate which they are often weeded 

 out. The chain should come down on each side of the neck as far aa 

 possible, and, without " taking hold of the BUI," should at least meet in 

 front, hiding the beak ; so that in a first-rate bird the crown of its head 

 is alone visible, both beak and eyes being hidden in feathers. An 

 open throat is faulty, according to its extent. In birds whose chains lap 

 over, it is not by one side lying right over the other, but by the two 

 sidea meeting and forcing their way through each other, which, of course, 

 cauaes a certain irregularity that cannot be avoided. Otherwise, the 

 whole outline of hood and chain ought to be as even aa possible. The 

 feathers forming the hood and chain should present a smooth surface, 

 each one lying in order, and this is the difficulty with very long-feathered 

 birds ; the shorter-feathered ones, with half an inch or more of open 

 throat, being much easier to produce good in this respect. 



