148 PIGEONS. 



bird enveloped in the dark hood, to the shaven crown of those ecclesiastics 

 partially covered by the cowl. The high-bred Jacks are tender, and not the 

 best of nurses, consequently the young should be raised under other sorts, 

 like many other of the different kinds of Fancy Pigeons ; their greater value being 

 ample remuneration for the extra trouble. The commoner sorts are very fair 

 breeders, but not being good flyers, are not adapted to procure their living abroad, 

 nor are they suited to contend for food among the other inhabitants of the poultry 

 yard, as, from the hood and chain obstructing the backward vision, they are 

 frequently pounced upon unawares by any malicious enemy. The Fancy demand 

 pearl eyes in white, as well as Jacks of any other colour. The so-called Jacobines 

 of the present time are comparatively but degenerate examples of the beautiful 

 short-faced Jacks of former writers ; and if any one wishes to excel in the reproduc- 

 tion of exquisite Jacobines, they must, by careful matching and in-and-in breeding, 

 reduce the best of the present Jacks to the former standard of excellence ; a small 

 pigeon, short beak, and close compact hood, with a chain reaching to the shoulders 

 (perhaps a slight admixture with a clean-marked short-faced Baldheaded Tumbler, 

 if judiciously used, would be advantageous in this matter) ; but as the in-and-in 

 breeding, if carried to any extent, will weaken the birds and reduce their prolific- 

 ness, the advantage derived must be in the enhanced value of the produce." 



Mr. Esquilant, the Secretary of the Philoperisteron Society, has long been a very 

 great admirer and successful breeder of this very beautiful variety. He has most 

 kindly favoured us with the following notes on the characters of the breed, as 

 existing at present : — 



" The Jacobine pigeon — really good specimens of which are now so scarce — has 

 always, from its exceeding elegance, been a favourite of mine ; it is therefore 

 with much regret I have observed, during the last ten years, that it has been so 

 much neglected. 



" The most important points and properties of the Jacobine I consider to be 

 the hood, the mane, and the chain. 



" The hood consists of a number of closely-arranged inverted feathers, of the 

 same colour as the body and shoulders of the bird, and perfectly free from white ; 

 these spring from the upper part of the back of the neck of the bird, and should 

 appear almost as if glued down to the top of the head. These feathers are con- 

 tinued down the front of the sides of the neck, forming the chain, and the lower 

 they reach and the closer they come together on the front of the neck and breast, 

 the more valuable the bird ; a good test of this important property is to slightly 

 stretch the neck of the bird, when in good specimens the feathers, being slightly 

 curled, will lap over each other in front. 



" The mane, which is in reality a most important feature in this bird, seems to 

 be almost lost sight of, and has degenerated, in most specimens, into a succession 

 of frills. I cannot better describe a perfect mane as it should be in the Jacobine, 

 than by designating it a ' hog-mane.' 



"By the radiation of the feathers from a central point on the side of the neck. 



