THE IDEAL JACOBIN YET UNSEEN. 163 



In carriage the Jacobin should somewhat resemble a 

 Tumbler, carrying the head well back, so as to show off tha 

 peculiar properties. It must not, however, trail the wings, but, 

 on the contrary, be a tight-feathered bird; and it is also desired 

 as slim in girth as can possibly be got. 



As already hinted, we believe that the disputes about mane 

 have chiefly arisen from the fact that the property seems antago- 

 nistic to diminutive size. This arises from the other fact that 

 good mane chiefly depends on great length and fulness of chain- 

 feather, which naturally occurs more often on coarse, vigorous 

 birds. Our own opinion is that, while an added beauty and 

 legitimate development, it should only be cultivated so far as is 

 possible in subordination to the other acknowledged pro- 

 perties. It will readily be gathered that this can only be done by 

 matching those larger birds which possess good chain and mane 

 with small and slim ones which are good in hood. Much can 

 be done in this way; and if these views shall find general 

 acceptance, and judges refuse to give prizes (as some have done) 

 for itw/ne and chain only, but insist on having, with mane or 

 not, small and elegant Jacobins, we have no doubt that the 

 required pigeon will be produced, and that the outcry of the 

 old-fashioned fanciers against mane will die out. 



As a rule, Jacobins give little trouble in rearing or feeding, 

 though the smallest specimens are apt to be delicate. Should 

 the short face be more cultivated, difficulty in rearing 

 might increase ; in fact, the bird would become one of the 

 very highest class of pigeons, having other difficult proper- 

 ties engrafted on all those of the high-class Baldhead ! To call 

 such a pigeon — and all these properties are fairly in the Jacobin 

 — a Toy, as some do, is simply a farce. On the contrary, no 

 pigeon is as yet so far off the acknowledged standard, even 

 close approximation to which has never been produced by man. 

 A Jacobin fairly perfect in hood, mane, and chain, with the head 

 of a Baldhead and the size of a Tumbler, has yet to be seen. 



