The Breeds of Pigeons. 19.j 



body colour. The cere in all is flesh-coloured, but 

 black or dark ceres would greatly improve the appear- 

 ance, of the Blacks. 



SeIvFS. — These are the popular and most exten- 

 sively bred of any of the Tumbler family, and this 

 is no doubt due to the fact that the breeder is not 

 troubled or worried with markings. He has only to 

 get his colour and structure right. It must, however, 

 be remembered that if Selfs are easier to breed than 

 the marked varieties, that they have to be bred to a 

 higher standard of excellence owing to the keenness 

 of the competition, and that it is almost as difficult, 

 if not more so, to become a leading light in the ranks 

 of vSelf breeders as it is amongst breeders of Mottles 

 or Balds and Beards. 



x^fter the structural properties colour is the Alpha 

 and Omega of the Self Tumbler ; and if one would 

 excel in vSelfs it is above all things necessary that 

 great attention be paid to the breeding of birds with 

 rich, sound, even colour. Blacks, Reds, Yellows, and 

 Whites are the prevailing colours, the Blacks being 

 the most numerous and the \^'hites the least. Blues 

 and Silvers are also bred, but as they are barred it 

 is a moot point if they can be admitted as Selfs. vSome 

 contend that they are, others say no. 



Bl.'\CKS should be a rich, deep, solid glossy black, 

 covered with a bright beetle-green sheen. The ceres 

 should be dark, also the beak. 



Reds should be a bright, deer> chestnut red 

 throughout, showing no pluminess, sootiness, or 

 mealiness of colour. 



Yellows, like Reds, must be of one even shade 

 of colour throughout, not a cold, hard looking colour, 

 but a warm, rich shade. Common faults are meali- 

 ness of body colour, and greyness or ashiness of flights 

 and tail. 



Yellows and Reds are .greatly affected by the sun, 

 and provision must be made for shielding them from 

 its direct rays. If the sun and rain are allowed to 

 reach them it is impossible to maintain the beauty and 

 colour of their plumage. 



