GERMAN TOYS. 173 



inappropriate, and that the proper English name would be Tern or Gull pigeoon. 

 The Germans also designate them Feen Tauben (Fairy pigeons) and Numberger, 

 or Farben Flugeliche. 



" Of all the Toy pigeons (I mean those I have classed as such, in distinction 

 from the fancy pigeons, which have many properties) these are, with the exception 

 of the Suabian Spangled pigeons, the most worthy of the fancier's notice, their 

 decided and beautiful marking, and the contrast of then - colour, placing them in 

 character above the general run of Toys. They are good breeders, about the size 

 of the Dovehouse pigeon, and are equally light and active in their movements, 

 though the feather-footed varieties, which are most esteemed on the Continent, are 

 not well adapted to provide their own living, owing to their short and heavily ■ 

 feathered feet. There are of this sort of pigeon both turned-crowned and smooth- 

 headed, as well as clean-footed and shod ; their necks are short ; their heads, 

 breasts, and backs broad ; their ground plumage is white ; their marking consists 

 of the scalp, wings, and the slippers in those that are shod being coloured, which 

 in the blue variety resembles the partition of colour in the Tern, the bird before 

 mentioned, from which they derive their name. 



" Then- points of marking are as follows: — First the head; the upper mandible 

 should be dark and the lower light ; the scalp or top of the head in a line from the 

 corners of the mouth across the eye, evenly marked, passing round to the back of 

 the head dark, but in those that are turned-crowned the hood must be perfectly 

 white. Secondly, the wings of these should be wholly coloured without any white 

 feathers, but the epaulets or scapular feathers, which lie on the back, at the 

 junction of the wings to the body, should be quite white, and as they overlay a part 

 of the wing when closed, it necessarily appears narrow, which is considered a par- 

 ticular point. Thirdly, the feet, if shod, should be thickly covered with coloured 

 feathers from the heel or hock-joint to the toes ; but the boots, or as Cochin, 

 fanciers would style it, the vulture hock, must be white. 



" Herr Gottlob Neumeister, of Weimar, enumerates five sub-varieties, as 

 follows : — 



" 1. The Black Tern pigeon, in which the markings are of a beautiful velvety 

 black. 2. The Blue Tern pigeon, the markings of which are clear blue, with 

 regular narrow black bars on the wings, the flight feathers being dark slate- 

 coloured. 3. The Bed Tern pigeon, the colourings of a fine dark brown-red. 

 4. The Yellow Tern pigeon : the markings are either bright yellow or buff. 5. 

 The Light Blue Tern pigeon : they are light blue on the coloured parts and 

 have no wing bars ; their pinions are slate-coloured. All the above varieties are 

 frequently to be met with with white wing bars, but they are not generally so 

 accurately marked, still more rarely have such fine shell-turned hoods. In addition 

 to the above, I have seen some with dove-coloured markings ; also of a kind of 

 lavender colour, and mealies. This sort of pigeon is becoming somewhat plentiful 

 in this country, though they are of but recent introduction, and they are now 

 frequently exhibited at our shows. 



