THE FAKTAIL AND JACOBITE PIGEONS. 



THE FANTAIL. 



Like the rant, this beautiful bird will be better suited in a 

 house a few feet from the ground, than in one perched at a 

 great height. In my opinion, it is the most elegant of all 

 pigeons. It is most commonly pure white, has a long and 

 dehcately-curved neck, and altogether much resembles the 

 swan, both in its formation and gait. 



To approach perfection, the fantail should possess a tapering 

 neck, and so long, that at times 

 the bird's head will nestle amongst 

 the tail-feathers; the breast should 

 be very full and prominent, and 

 the tail should be always erect. 

 The tail should never number less 

 than twenty-four, or more than 

 thirty -six feathers ; otherwise, 

 from sheer weight, the tail will fantaii. pigeons. 



droop, and the beauty of the bird be considerably marred. 



The fantail is likewise called, by writers, the " broad-tailed 

 shaker. WiUughby calls it so. " They are called shakers," 

 says he, " because they do almost constantly shake or wag 

 their heads up and down ; broad-taUed, from the great number 

 of feathers they have in their tails ; they say not fewer than 

 twenty-six. When they walk up and down, they do for the 

 most part hold their tails erect like a hen or turkey-cock." 



If you breed the fantail with another Species of pigeons, the 

 fantail will, either whoUy or in part, disappear ; if only ia part, 

 then it is called a " half fantail," or " narrow-tailed shaker." 

 It is possible, however, to restore the true breed by matching 

 an entire fantail with a " narrow-tailed shaker." 



THE JACOBITE. 



This bird is variously known as the " jack," the " ruff," and 

 the " capuchin," as well as by its proper title. Its chief pecu- 

 liarity is a friU of inverted feathers, the back of the head 

 resembhng, to a fanciful imagination, the cowl of a monk, 

 whence its name. This frill is called the " hood," and the 

 closer and more compact it grows the greater the bird is prized. 

 The lower part of the hood-feathers is called the chain, and 

 they should be of such length as to admit of their being lapped 

 over in front of the bird. 



