234 PIGEONS AND ALL AHOFT TFIEM. 



THE TRUMPETER. 



THE Trumpeter is one of tliemost o<l(l lookiug liiiils in 

 the fancy, and wliile not ;i general favorite, is bred to 

 tbe very highest jioint liy quite a number of entliusi- 

 anlic breeders. In old days it was s<Mnetimes called the 

 Laughing pigeon, but it now goes by tlie name of the llnssian 

 i>r Bolfhara Trumpeter. This bird is said to be a naiiveof 

 Russia, but the great majority of tliose in this country were 

 imported from Germany. That the trumpeter is one of tlio 

 most peculiar vagaries of the pigeon tribe, all will admit. 

 I know of no other pigeon that has the "rose" so developed, 

 and the nearest approach to it in any bird is in a breed of 

 Canaries that have it. This rose is a complete circle be- 

 ginning at the centre of the skull, covering it entirely, ex- 

 tending over the eyes and over almost the entire beak. 



The crest of the trunijieter is similar U' that of such va- 

 rieties as the Sw illow and Nun, and it rises behind the rose, 

 making a sorl of double head covering. The larger this 

 crest the bellei ol course, and it shouhl begin below the eye. 

 As to boots, the trumpeter stands almost alone, if I may 

 except the Spot or Fairy .Swallow. There is no great length 

 of feathei at the hock, Imt the booting grows heavier as we 

 go down, until, on the outside of the foot it reaches an enor- 

 mcuis length. 



This bird is vciy deceptive in size, scjine of them, thrtuigli 

 their wonderful and loose feathering, looking as large ;i.i 

 Runts, but the body is no larger than that of a medium 

 ized pigeon. 



The eye of the trumpeter is while. The standard colors 

 are, mottles which are far in the majority .ind come first, ami 

 liliicks ami whites, with a few reds ;ind vcllows. 



