118 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



the feathers being white, and more or less of the web near the 

 roots a little grizzled, whereas the true Whole-feather or Mottle 

 is sound in colour to the root. 



The White blood sometimes also comes out in almost white 

 birds ; but as there is almost always a little colour somewhere, 

 these too must be termed Agates. 



Splashes resemble Almonds in having aU three colours; 

 but differ in having white intermixed with the body feather- 

 ing, which in Almonds is only black and yellow. They very 

 often also have one or more of the standard feathers with 

 white and black only. 



True Whole-feathers are also found, and also a kind of dun, 

 some of which approach yellow in colour, and if so are very 

 useful in breeding. 



Such being the colours that occur in breeding Almonds, it 

 will be readily understood that it is utterly impossible there 

 should be any regular rule for matching. The object must 

 always be to keep up the balance of blood, and as fast as any 

 deficiency in either of the colours appears, to supply it. To 

 this end it is necessary that the breeding of the birds be 

 known, and in default of this the amateur is working in the 

 dark. Thus, we may have two Almonds it is wished to match 

 up. Both look very much alike ; yet one may be the produce 

 of a pair which have thrown a predominance of Agates and 

 Splashes, showing that the lighter colours were getting the 

 ascendancy; while the other may be the issue of a recent 

 strong infusion of Kite blood. It is evident the two would 

 require very different matches. Generally, however, it may be 

 observed that as aU light colours tend to get the upper hand, 

 more frequent crosses of dark Almonds and Kites are neces- 

 sary than of the lighter sub- varieties ; and also, as a rule, 

 Agates and light Almonds require pairing with Kites or very 

 dark Almonds. A Splash, again, may often be mated to 

 advantage with a Whole-feather, or even a Kite with abundance 



