THE DBAG0N. 81 



breastbone ; the head should be long, straight, and narrow, and the wattle of the 

 eye perfectly round and free from that irregular pinched-up appearance too 

 frequently seen in birds of this breed. The beak should be quite black. In 

 speaking of the feathers I must not omit noticing the white rump, which I regard 

 as a great defect ; for I contend that a Dragon may just as well have a patch of 

 white on the shoulder or elsewhere as on the rump ; and if the white rump be 

 correct in the blue, why should it not be equally so in the red or yellow birds ? 

 My idea is that a Dragon, even if perfection in all other points, should be 

 disqualified from taking prizes if it be white-rumped, it being a foul-feathered 

 bird." 



Any opinion coming from so good a fancier as Mr. Percival must command 

 attention; but in some respects other amateurs differ from him. In a blue Dragon 

 the plumage should be identical in colour with that of the wild Blue Rock, the 

 origin of all our breeds. The European race of Blue Rocks have white rumps; the 

 Indian have the slaty blue that Mr. Percival so much admires. No doubt all 

 breeders would prefer a blue to a white rurnped bird, but few judges would consent 

 to disqualify the latter ; nay, more, it is almost certain that if required to judge 

 between two pens, one containing white-rumped birds of high excellence, the other 

 blue-rumped birds of inferior quality, as regarded carriage, symmetry, properties of 

 the head,-&c, they would not hesitate a moment to choose the former, whether 

 for breeding purposes or for exhibition. 



Many fanciers have a great admiration for this breed of birds on account of 

 their symmetry, the grace of their carriage, and the rapidity and vigour of their 

 flight. 



The blue birds, if well marked, have, generally, a preference over those of 

 other colours, either red, yellow, black, or white. The wonderful gamecock-like 

 symmetry and hardness of feather that distinguish the best blues is rarely, if 

 ever, seen in Dragons of other colours. The yellows and reds are, generally, very 

 broad-headed; and whites and blacks are too often merely coarse- wattled, half-bred 

 Carriers, that offend the eye of a true London Dragon breeder. 



"With regard to management, Dragons require no special care ; they are such 

 admirable parents that the commoner specimens are constantly employed in 

 rearing the young of other varieties. Formerly, pure-bred Dragons were largely 

 used for conveying messages, but other breeds are now more extensively employed, 

 as described in the following chapter. 



The name of Skinnum is given by the London fanciers to the mongrels bred 

 between a Dragon and any common pigeon. Many of these birds are strong 

 rapid flyers. 



