THE PIGEON BOOK 99 



The Oriental Turbiteen has undoubtedly played an 

 important part in improving English Turbits, as the 

 imported birds have been used very extensively in recent 

 years by Turbit breeders. 



There is no doubt that Oriental Frills are bred more 

 extensively than is supposed, many keeping them as a 

 hobby on account of their beauty but not exhibiting them, 

 and it is certain that the variety is very, very attractive, 

 and those who take it up will find that the birds breed 

 very true to line, and, moreover, are much hardier than 

 some heavily wattled, big, coarse varieties. 



I have to thank Mr. Frank Machin for permission to 

 quote from his excellent address to the members of the 

 Birmingham Columbarian Society for information rela- 

 tive to Orientals. 



The Turbit. 



Of the short-faced, frill-breasted varieties the Turbit 

 holds a very popular position in the Fancy. 



The Turbit has much akin in its nature to the Owl 

 family, and I believe that African Owls have been used 

 extensively for crossing with the Turbit. 



The Turbit should be entirely white, with the excep- 

 tion of the wing butts. The wings, including the scapu- 

 lar feathers, should be coloured, but the flight feathers 

 should be white. 



One of the difiiculties Turbit breeders have to contend 

 with is foul thighs or foul feathers under the vent ; then, 

 again, you may breed a particularly good bird, but with 

 uneven flights. 



A great fault that is very glaring in the Turbit are 

 bishop wings. Nothing looks so bad, and as one of the 

 principal characteristics of the Turbit is good colour and 



