THii riGEOT^ STANDAItt). 75 



THE SUABIAN. 



The ground color of its plumage is of a dark slate-like hue, 

 but each of the lesser soft feathers has a proportionately 

 large or small spot of silvery satin-like tinge at its edging, 

 giving to the whole body plumage a laced and watered-satin 

 lustre. The minor flights should have a light satin oval 

 mark in the centre ; the major flight feathers are each tipped 

 with a white satin marking, being distinctly and separately 

 observable, even when the wing is closed. The tail is slate 

 colored, and has a distinct black bar at its lip. Some Suab- 

 ians are crested ; their feet and legs are clear of all feathers 

 • below the hocks. Carriage rather erect; neck slender. 



THE HYACINTH. 



Much resembles the Suabian in the ground color of its 

 plumage, but is rather spangled in arrow fashion than laced 

 on the shoulders ; the spangling itself is of a bluish shade — 

 some specimens have an almond-yellow ground plumage on 

 the shoulders ; the flights and tail are of a dark slate color; 

 the size of the Hyacinth is rather above the medium propor- 

 tion ; the legs are free from all feathering, and of a rich coral 

 color. Carriage rather erect ; neck slender. 



THE PORCELAIN. 



Closely resembles the Hyacinth; the neck, breast, rump, 

 and tail and flight feathers are rather darker, while the 

 shoulders, and especially the wing bars, are very much light- 

 er in ground ; the bars are almost white, delicately edged 

 with a bluish-black fringe ; the feet and legs are bright red 

 and free from all feathering. Carriage rather erect ; neck 

 slender. 



THE STARLING. 



Very lustrous, almost black-bodied. A half moon-shaped 

 crescent marking on the breast of a light whitish-grey tinge, 

 very lightly spangled or flaked with reddish-black streaks. 

 The crown of the head and also the sides of the face are very 

 evenly streaked with brownish splash marks. The bars on 

 the wings should be clear white, not at all broken or jagged 

 in edging ; the whole of the plumage should reflect a brilliant 

 lustre. The legs and feet are coral-color, and devoid of 

 feather. 



