168 



PIGEONS. 



green. There is no other variety of domestic pigeon which, in metallic brilliancy 

 of plumage, even approaches that of the Archangel, whose colours recall to mind 

 the glossy brightness of the Indian pheasants rather than the more sober tints 

 generally found on the ordinary Columbine birds. The flight feathers are of a 

 dusky black. The tail, I am informed by their original importer, was black 

 throughout, but we find it now of a dull blue at the base, with a black bar at its 

 termination. A few years since yellow-necked birds were much esteemed, and no 

 doubt that colour would give a value to this variety in the fancy ; but I have 

 found that with the yellow-neck comes more conspicuously the blue-tail ; and 

 these lighter birds are apt to be deficient in the brilliant metallic lustre that is 

 the great and distinguishing beauty of the breed. The eye should be of a bright, 

 golden, orange-red. Some good birds are pearl-eyed, and although that colour 

 does not accord so well with the general brilliancy of colouring that ought to 

 characterize the birds of this breed, I am not prepared to reckon it as a defect. 

 The feet, which are small, should be of a bright deep red. 



"Tuft. — The tuft is formed at the junction of the feathers of the skull with 

 those of the neck ; the feathers of which it is composed should not be sufficiently 

 long to overlap, and they should end in a finely-drawn point at the back of the 

 head. Any approach to a broad shell-tuft, resembling that of the Trumpeter, is to 

 be regarded as a great defect ; and as such a character is apt to be inherited, an 

 untufted bird would be far preferable for stock purposes to one with a shell-crown. 



" Carriage. — The Archangel should have a smart carriage, standing well upon 

 its thighs, the head well up, the shoulders close set, the girth narrow. 



" For public judging, the numeral value of points may be thus distributed : 

 colour 8, tuft 4, shape and carriage 3 — total, 15. 



" Though comparatively few good birds are now to be seen, nevertheless Arch- 

 angels are reasserting their place in public estimation. They are much sought 

 after, and very liberal prizes are now offered for them at the Birmingham and 

 other shows. Archangels are prolific, and make good nurses ; and although 

 among the produce there may be some that are valueless, the greater number bred 

 will be generally gratifying to their owners. 



" A large flight of these pigeons, such as I recollect seeing at the Swiss Cottage, 

 was a very pleasing sight. They have much in common with the Rock dove, 

 particularly in size, shape of body and beak, and quick darting flight ; as they 

 walked daintily in the court-yard with the sun beaming on their lustrous feathers, 

 they gave one the idea of their being the most gorgeous of their race. No court 

 milliner could have clad them in more resplendent colours ; no coiffeur could have 

 been more exact to a hair in arranging their toupee ; no bottier could have 

 encased their legs and feet in brighter scarlet morocco ; and all their attire was so 

 brilliantly harmonized that they seemed better adapted to suit the gorgeous beauty 

 of an oriental court than the pale colouring of our colder clime." 



It is difficult to account for the English name of Archangel. A correspondent 

 informs us that he sent expressly to Archangel for these birds, but they were 



