2V2 Pigeons and Ai,l About Them. 



Culour and markings are the chief attractions of 

 the \nn, although some sa_\' its leading characteris- 

 tic and property is the crest. Close obser\ation for 

 man\' \'ears con^inces me that markings invariably 

 dominate all other properties; the shell or crest cer- 

 tainly is important, but it is not the first property. 



In size and shape the Nun resembles the ordinary 

 Long-faced Tumbler, and should be a compact, cobby 

 bird, of alert, graceful carriage. The head, generally 

 called the cap, and bib should be coloured, the latter 

 extending with a nice clean s\\'eep well down the 

 neck towards the breast ; the wider and deeper the 

 bib, the more valuable the bird possessing it. 



The shell or crest, ■s'shich in mv opinion is the 

 second point, should rise perpendicularly at its junc- 

 ture with the base of the head, and be carried very 

 erect, altliougli slightly curving inwards as it rises 

 from tlie ears, that is the bend, although very slight 

 and at the tips of the feathers, should be towards 

 the front, twisted or turned feathers spoiling the 

 Ijeaut}' of the shell completely. 



The flights shotild be short, and in colottr should 

 follo^\- that of the bird, black, dun, blue, red or yellow; 

 ID b\ TO is the standard of excellence, but few attain 

 it ; still there are man}" q b>' 9, and this is considered 

 good. The tail should be short and coloured, like 

 the head and bib, and the colour should be solid and 

 bright. The rest of the body, including the shell, is 

 white. 



The e\e and cere are points which should receive 

 more attention than they do. ' I much dislike a fiery 

 e\-e and a coarse cere ; thev both detract largely from 

 the other properties. The eye should be milk or 

 silvery white, and the cere very fine, dark in colour, 

 and close fitting. 



The colours are blacks, duns, reds, and vellows, 

 but blacks are the most numerous, even as thev are 

 the most perfect, the other colours all failing' con- 

 siderably in shell. 



THE ARCH.\XGEL. 

 This is essentiall)' a bird of colour and lustre, 

 and it is totally dilTerent from any other variety known 



