174 tigeons. 



" According to M. Boitard and M. Corbie, the hooded varieties are considered 

 distinct from the smooth-headed in France, and known by a different name, or at 

 least they are the high fancy of the breed, and are bred with much care and 

 of a small size." 



Mag-pies are another variety of German Toys that are well known in England. 

 In appearance they offer very striking contrasts of colour ; the wings, lower part 

 of the breast, and thighs being perfectly white, whilst the remainder of the 

 plumage is coloured. The great beauty of birds of this breed depends on the 

 purity and richness of their colours and the accuracy of their markings ; the line 

 of separation between the coloured and white portions of the plumage must be 

 sharply and accurately marked. If the white and coloured feathers intermix, 

 such birds are valueless as show birds, and not to be depended on for stock. 



Magpies are of various colours, as black, red, yellow, and blue. 



Among the other German Toys less frequently seen in this country are the 

 Starlings, Shields, Swiss, and Mooned pigeons. 



The Starlings are dark-coloured birds, white-barred, with a speckled, crescent- 

 shaped band across the crop. 



The Shields are so termed from bearing on their wings a coloured mark like 

 a shield, on a white ground. 



The Swiss and Mooned pigeons have a crescent-shaped coloured mark on the 

 breast. 



As we have before stated, the number of these Toys is almost infinite ; and 

 by mating together different varieties, new breeds are constantly produced. 



Amongst the German birds we should not omit to notice the very pretty feather- 

 footed Flying Tumblers so common on the Continent. They are not what English 

 fanciers would call short-faced ; but they are exceedingly pretty lively little birds. 

 They are of all colours ; but usually more or less speckled or mottled. 



Among the most remarkable birds that we have seen on the Continent are those 

 known as " Long-winged pigeons." In colour the specimens we have seen have 

 been bronzed, somewhat like the colour of an Archangel pigeon ; but their striking 

 peculiarity is the extreme length of the flight-feathers of the wings, which 

 extend beyond those of the tail. Of the power of flight possessed by these birds 

 we know nothing, our acquaintance with them being limited to a few pairs 

 confined in aviaries. They would form a very striking and novel addition to 

 the varieties known in this country. 



