1S6 Pigeons and All About Them. 



in "knob." Splashes are Agates with black splashes 

 about them, generallj- in the flights and tail. 



Selfs. — These, as their names denote, are whole, 

 or self-coloured birds. 



Kites. — x\re really Blacks, with a bronzj' or 

 reddish tint running through the feather ; the black 

 should be a rich, deep black, not a dull, slaty colour. 



THE BREEDING OF ALMONDS. 



How the Almond originated is somewhat of a 

 mj^stery, even as its breeding is a matter of great in- 

 tricac_y. I have not the space to enter into the matter, 

 and can only direct the young aspirant into roads 

 which will give scope for his own ingenuity and fer- 

 ility of resource. A show Almond, that is a bird 

 approaching perfection, should be mated to an Agate 

 wliicli is whole-feathered, that is one in wh.-'ch the 

 white marking is onh' tO' be found in the fliglits and 

 tail. Almond cocks that fail in ground colour, but 

 are well spangled, should be mated to a good, bright 

 coloured red hen, or a rich lustrous Kite. Kite and 

 Agate cocks should have Almond hens as mates. 

 Agates and Kites when paired will also produce 

 Almonds. Splashes when paired to whole or !-elf- 

 coloured reds and yellows will nearly always show 

 a good proportion of Almond progeny. The matings 

 depend to a very great extent upon the family history 

 of each Pigeon, and it is most essential to success in 

 Short-faced breeding that the fancier keep a most 

 careful record of his matings and their produce. 



Baldheads and Beards. — These have all the 

 characteristics of the family, with the markings which 

 give them their distinctive names. Although not so 

 numerous as they used to be, there is still a goodly 

 number of Baldheads and Beards bred, and an effort 

 is being made by a few enthusiasts to raise them to 

 their former high estate. The colours are black, blue, 

 red, yellow, and silver, the two former predom- 

 inating. 



