122 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



progeny. At least, this is the best plan if Short-faced blood be 

 adhered to. But there is often to be found all but perfect 

 marking among the common Tumblers described in the next 

 chapter ; and as these can sometimes be found even a shade 

 better in head than what is termed pleasant-faced, a surer way 

 is to cross with such a strain. 



Black Mottles have long been a distinct strain, and we agree 

 with Mr. Fulton in considering them the most beautiful of the 

 Short-faced family. Probably no pigeon is so hard to breed, two 

 main difficulties constantly occurring. The first is of course to 

 obtain the marking, without too many white feathers, or what is 

 termed being too gay. Nearly aU the birds shown have under- 

 gone a fearful amount of " weeding " on this account, and there 

 is in particular a strong propensity to a white mark on the 

 forehead, which is termed a "blaze," and which is sometimes dyed 

 to hide it. Secondly, the Almond origin shows itself in a strong 

 propensity to Kite colour, the more so as Kites are almost the 

 only crosses available. The Kite tinge also is apt to come out 

 on the head, though it may occur anywhere, especially in the 

 quill feathers. This Kite colour, then, has to be bred out ; 

 and this can only be done by avoiding, as far as possible, 

 breeding together two birds possessing it. Sometimes a really 

 jet-black whole-coloured bird can be obtained, and such wiU of 

 course make a valuable cross for black Mottle breeding. The 

 marking can only be kept even near the right standard by 

 bearing in mind that the white always tends to increase, 

 and that a bird at all gay should therefore be matched to a 

 Whole-feather or dark Kite, while one with enough mottle 

 should go with one much too dark, or even a whole-coloured 

 black. The blaze on the face is, however, much the hardest 

 thing to overcome. That nearly perfect marking is possible 

 is proved by the success attained in common Tumblers. 



Baldheads, like the following, and unlike the preceding 



