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 DOMESTIC PIGEONS 245 



these two colors in different breeds. The best silvers are 

 seen in Owls and Muffed Tumblers. Among Homer breed- 

 ers and some others, however, mealies have always been 

 known as silvers, a practice which seems to be as ineradicable 

 as it is incorrect. Mealies, which also are sometimes known 

 as silver duns, are of many shades, some of which closely 

 approach dun, with dun bars. If the term silver dun could 

 be confined to these dark birds, as is done in the American 

 High-flyer, the clouds of color nomenclature would be con- 

 siderably cleared. 



The general cast of the cream is very pale, with a slight 

 creamy tint. The bars, neck and breast are a soft yellow, 

 forming one of the most beautiful color schemes found 

 among pigeons. Curiously enough, creams are considered 

 " off colors " and hence not particularly desirable, so that 

 they are not common in any breed. 



Chequers have, in addition to the wing bars, markings 

 of the same color on the wing coverts and sometimes the 

 rump. In all cases the chequering should be even and dis- 

 tinct. In the blue chequer the markings are of black, about 

 evenly divided with blue. The black chequer is in reality 

 simply a very dark blue chequer, in which the blue is all 

 but obliterated. The silver chequer has dapplings of black 

 or deep dun, according to its wing bars. The red chequer 

 is to all intents and purposes a dark mealy, with marked 

 wings. Dun chequer is a pretty and usual color, the wings 

 being set off in two shades of dun. The yellow chequer is 

 actually a chequered cream, not a yellow. 



Blue, black and red cheque"s are recognized as standard 

 colors in many breeds, while the pretty silver, dun and 

 yellow chequers are frowned down as off colors. 



There still remain two colors, not generally recognized as 

 " standard." One of these is lavender. This is a soft, 

 ashy shade, with a real suggestion of lavender, and generally 



