CHAPTEE XXIII. 



THE LACE, 02 SILKY, AND FEILLBACK PIGEONS. 



rPHESE two breeds are characterized more strongly by the remarkable character 

 -*- of the plumage than by any singularities of form or colour. Such varieties 

 have been known for a long period of time ; for Aldrovandus figures a Columba 

 crispis pennis, but gives no description of the bird. Moore, in his " Columbarium," 

 omits to notice either breed. Both, however, are described by the compiler of the 

 Treatise of 1765, who also supplies an engraving of the Lace variety, of which he 

 writes : — 



" This bird is, I believe, originally bred in Holland, where, I am informed, 

 there are large numbers of them ; though not one that I know of to be seen in 

 England at present. It is a size rather less than a common Runt, and like it in 

 shape and make; though I once saw a Shaker of this kind. Their colour is 

 white, and they are valued on account of their scarcity and the peculiarity of their 

 feathers, the fibres or webs of which appear disunited from each other throughout 

 the whole plumage, and not in the least connected, as is common with all other 

 pigeons where they form a smooth close feather." 



The writer then refers to the cut, which represents a pigeon of the ordinary 

 form, with feathers with disunited webs, and a well-turned crown at the back of 

 the head. 



Mr. Brent states : — 



" This curious variety of domestic pigeon is very scarce ; their chief peculiarity 

 consists in the webs of their feathers being disunited, like the plumage of the 

 Silky fowls, and from which cause their powers of flight are much curtailed. 

 The few that I have seen have always been white, and had much the appearance 

 of half-bred Fantails ; and I have read that in both France and Holland Fantails 

 are to be met with, with this beautiful lacy or silky plumage." 



The Lace pigeon, as described by the author of the Treatise, appears to be 

 almost, if not quite, unknown in England at the present time. There have, how- 

 ever, been several examples of very good laced Fantails imported from the Conti- 

 nent, and exhibited at various shows during the last few years. The majority of 

 them were white, but some have had a portion of the plumage black in colour. 



"The Frillback," writes the compiler of the Treatise, "is something less in 

 size than a Dragoon, and in shape like the common Bunt ; their colour generally 

 (if not always) white ; and what is chiefly remarkable in them is the turn of their 



