222 Pigeons and Au. About Them. 



the frillback. 



This bird is of the common dovehouse Pigeon 

 shape and size, rather short on the legs, and long in 

 flights. It is grouse-legged. The e\"es are red. The 

 peculiarity of the breed is that the feathers of the 

 w'mg co\ ering and back are frilled, and grow in 

 re\erse fashion to those of other breeds. Frillbacks 

 may be found in all colours, but those most frequently 

 seen are whites, grizzles, and mealies. 



THE SPOT. 



This is a white Pigeon of the common type, with 

 a dark tail, and a spot of the same colour. The eves 

 are " bull " or dark coloured. The face marking or 

 spot is about the size of a good large pea. They are 

 clean-legged and grouse-legged. The beak is bi- 

 coloured, the upper mandible being dark, and the 

 lo\^-er white. 



THE BLAZEFACE. 



The Blazeface is found in a ^■ariety of colours, and 

 is mostly valued for its richness, depth, and clearness 

 of colouring. The blaze mark from which the name 

 is derived is a white, clearly-defined oblong streak of 

 white just over the wattle, in the centre of the fore- 

 head. This mark must not be large, or the bird loses 

 in value ; it should not exceed an eighth of an inch 

 in width, and about a quarter of an inch in length; 

 the whole of the body is coloured, but the tail" and 

 its co\-erts are white. The bronze-winged variety 

 is kno^^"n in England as the Fire Pigeon. 



THE STARLING. 

 This is a black Pigeon, with a well-defined 

 crescent-shaped marking on its chest of a greyish 

 colour, ticked or flaked with reddish black streaks. 

 It has also white wing bars. The plumage should be 

 tight and compact, and the colour rich and showing 

 plenty of sheen. The eyes are red. In shape it is of 

 the common Do\t'.iouse style, and of small size. 



