THE BARB. 135 



of may be traced the descent of most of the best birds at present in existence, 

 though it must be confessed that as a rule they do not appear to have been 

 much improved by the English breeders, and a good leaven of newly imported 

 birds, with good first-class properties, would doubtless be welcomed by most of 

 our Barb breeders of the present time. 



" In describing the properties of the Barb, as recognized at the present day, one 

 of the first things to be determined is their size. In tbis respect I am aware that 

 considerable difference of opinion exists among breeders ; but for my own part, I 

 must strongly maintain that Barbs should be small by comparison with the larger 

 breeds — by which I mean that Barbs of a small size, possessing equal properties 

 in other respects, are to be valued above larger birds. I am fully aware that 

 it is much easier to breed large coarse birds with many good properties, than 

 it is to produce small ones ; and I believe that many breeders are fain to 

 accept the inevitable, and take ' the good the gods provide, ' in lieu of that 

 which they would get if they could. Having said so much about size, it is desirable 

 to lay down a rule or standard, and I do not hesitate to say that a first-class cock 

 Barb should not weigh over 1 lb., while one of 12 oz. is to be much preferred. 

 Hens average from 5- oz. to 1 oz. less than cocks. 



" The principal properties or characteristics of the Barb are in the head, though 

 shape and carriage are also very important items, and must on no account be lost 

 sight of; the flight-feathers are rather longer than in most other varieties, and 

 serve to carry off the somewhat bulky appearance of the body of the bird. With 

 regard to colour, Barbs are usually self coloured, and the prevailing hues are 

 black, white, yellow, red, and dun. Splashed and mottled birds are sometimes 

 produced, and may be useful for crossing, but as yet they have done nothing in the 

 show-pen. In value, I should estimate the colours in the following order : — 

 1st black; 2nd yellow ; 3rd white ; 4th red ; and 5th dun. 



" The beak in the Barb is short and thick, not shaped like that of the parrot, 

 but with the upper and lower mandibles meeting, as in the bullfinch — the thicker 

 the lower mandible the better. The beak should be furnished above and below 

 with a neatly shaped fine wattle, of a white or very pale colour. The iris of 

 the eye in the Barb should be white or pearl-coloured in all the dark-feathered 

 varieties, though many otherwise good birds have yellow or gravel eyes. The 

 eye-wattle is of a brilliant red or coral colour, and should be large and well 

 defined, standing out boldly from the cheeks and evenly distributed round the 

 eye ; a deficiency of wattle at the back is the prevailing fault. Tbe texture should 

 be fine and velvety. There should be no vacant space or distance between the 

 eye and beak-wattles : they should meet, but not be crowded together. The 

 skull is broad, square, and flat on the top ; the profile, from top of skull, between 

 the eyes, to tip of beak, should be an unbroken line or curve, without break or 

 indentation at the insertion of the beak or its junction with the skull. The 

 chest is full, round, and prominent; the neck small at the intersection of the head, 

 gradually and gracefully swelling to the fully developed shoulders ; and the bird 



