112 THE PIGEON-FANCIER. 



III. 

 THE BEARD. 



In shortfaced properties the Beard ranks 

 behind the Baldhead as far as the Baldhead is 

 behind the Almond. Beards have been sadly 

 neglected in the last generation. Most Baldhead 

 Fanciers have taken them on as a sort of sup- 

 plementary fancy, but not treated them quite 

 seriously. They generally occupy a secondary 

 place in the loft. I kept Baldheads for many 

 years before I owned my first pair of Beards. 

 I am now very fond of them, for they improve on 

 acquaintanceship. Several gentlemen, including 

 Messrs. Masters, Towndrow, Lock, and Wood- 

 house, are now trying to rub out the reproach, and 

 are striving diligently to improve this neglected 

 variety, possessing the serene hope that they 

 will soon land it in the front of the Fancy. May 

 they succeed. The coloured engraving is of a 

 bird in the author's possession. It is a portrait, 

 not a prophecy. 



The Beard in shortfaced properties is to be 

 judged by the standard of the Almond, from 

 which it differs only in markings. The points 

 peculiar to this variety are very few and simple. 

 The marking or " beard " which gives the bird 



