CARISTBAUX 39 



It is generally conceded by the leading Cameau breeders of 

 America that the eighteen to twenty-two ounce Cameau is the 

 best, most typical and most productive of the breed. 



CARNEAUX WITH SLATE COLORED FEATHERS 



The common objection to slate or blue feathers on the Car- 

 neau is no doubt due to the fact that most Cameau crosses have 

 such feathers and while the presence of slate or blue feathers 

 on a bird does not prove that it is not a full-blooded Cameau, 

 this tost acts as a safeguard to the inexperienced. The natural 

 color of a Carncau is led and white. Rare specimens are red, 

 and sometimes yellow. Sometimes they have slate or blue on 

 their breasts, rumps or on their tails. This slate is generally 

 due, however, to the effort to breed extra dark, solid red Car- 

 neaux. When there is no pigment in the feather coloring the 

 feathers are white, and with too much pigment they are darker 

 than red and take on a bluish cast, commonly called slate. 



Another objection to slate feathers is the tendency toward 

 darker meated squabs. The presence of considerable slate in the 

 feathers always means dark meated squabs. 



If one would discard all Carncaux with slate feathers and 

 retain those without slate feathers they would be reasonably 

 , siu'e of having the pure bred stock, but this is really not the 

 best test. A Carneau has other marks of distinction besides its 

 color which are just as much or more important. There are 

 pigeons of the Carneau shade of red to be found among lots 

 of other varieties, and if the color test only applied one might 

 have red birds with no Cameau blood in them and think they 

 were Carneaux. 



For those who are not familiar with the Carneau, I will fur- 

 nish a few of the most important and pronounced characteristics 

 of the bird. The average hen will weigh from 18 to 22 ounces, 

 and the cock from 19 to 23 ounces. If fat they will run a little 

 more and if poor a little less than that. Both sexes are of 

 blocky type — the cock having a little longer body and the hen 

 a little deeper keel and fuller breast with a smaller throat and 

 head. The beak is light in color, of medium size with a medium 

 V-shaped wattle; the eye rather large and bright set in the 

 middle of the head; the top of the head round and high in front, 



