CHAPTER LXVIII. 



TURKISH FRILLED PIGEONS. 



I THINK very highly of these Turkish frilled pigeons, and consider them 

 most valuable additions to our lofts ; but it does not appear that they 

 have taken such root in this country as their escellenco merits, "which 

 may be accounted for in various ways. Though hardy enough when 

 imported of mature age, there is great mortality amongst immature 

 birds, and their produce is equally delicate, I have found, with other 

 varieties of frilled pigeons. Some of them, as the turbiteens and 

 vizors, are of recent production, and their marking by no means fixed, 

 and many are barren or sterile from age, or, if breeders, their young 

 ones often show that they themselves have been strangely bred, bo 

 that fanciers find it would necessitate a large expenditure to go thoroughly 

 into any of the varieties. Again, those who might surmount all the 

 difficulties with these fine pigeons, in thoroughly establishing them in 

 this country, have their attention already fixed on our native breeds, 

 and where there are only a few willing to take thorn up, it becomes no 

 easy matter to establish them, there being work enough in the various 

 kinds to demand the whole attention of many breeders. It requires 

 great perseverance, care, and outlay, to thoroughly transplant any race 

 of domestic animals, and it needs many breeders to accomplish it, more, 

 I beheve, than seem willing to attempt it with these birds, so that 

 I fear, were no more importations to be made, there would be few signa 

 of them left in this country after twenty or thirty years. I admire them 

 much, and wish them well, and though they may not increase hero 

 there is no fear of them being neglected by the ardent fanciers of 

 the East. 



The varieties are the satinette, blondinette, domino, vizor, and tnr- 

 biteen. The first and third appear to be old breeds ^ the others more 



