1C2 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPKR. 



will come level with the eyes. The feathers at the root of the 

 hood sometimes prevent its fitting so close as desired ; and these 

 are often extracted or cut off close to the skin by unprincipled 

 persons : for which reason any bird fixed on for a prize or a 

 purchase should be most carefully examined, by drawing the 

 hood feathers back so as to expose the roots, to see nothing has 

 been tampered with. 



The peculiar turned plumage which forms the hood is con- 

 tinued down the sides of the neck, where it forms the " chain." 

 This must come as low as possible, and be so long and so set as 

 to nearly or quite meet down the front of the breast. It is 

 equally important that it be smooth and even at the edges. 

 Another set of feathers turns backward over the shoulders, 

 leaving an opening or furrow between. Viewed in front, the 

 chain should lie so flat to the sides of the neck that the latter 

 appears thin. In " Mayor's " time it appears some people used 

 to cut out a strip of skin down the breast and sew the edges 

 together, to make the chain come closer ; but at the present 

 day birds have so much more chain that such a cruel practice 

 has become not only disused, but forgotten. 



Next come the disputed points of "mane " and "rose." As 

 chain developed, and the feathers composing it became longer, 

 it was found that instead of the " parting " passing round the 

 shoulders and back, the feathers tended to divei'ge in all direc- 

 tions from one spot in the centre on each side, leaving the white 

 fluff visible as a more or less elongated spot, instead of a line. 

 This spot or centre of white fluff was called the "rose." 

 Similarly, instead of the feathers pointing apart, up and down, 

 at the back of the neck, they pointed backward from the rose, 

 filling up an even crest aloiig the back of the whole chain, 

 which was called " mane " appropriately enough. Mane thus 

 arose simply by developing chain ; and is by the vast majority 

 considered an additional property. This mane, too, must be 

 smooth and even, not notched or ragged. 



