240 
The Illustrated Book of Pigeo.vs. 
the tail, besides which the quills of the tail-feathers are almost always stained as it were with 
dirty black. There may not unlikely be also a white splash or two in the tail ; and we can 
suggest no better means for getting rid of these faults than the steady crossing of the Black with 
the Reds. To correct white feathers in the tail of a good Red, we would advise even a black- 
beaked Black, nearly all dark-beaked birds being harder in feather, and thus more likely to cause 
the disappearance of the foul marks, and even to make the Red itself more uniform throughout 
the body. 
In either the Dun or Red cross, there is very little fear of getting faulty-coloured eyes, as 
either colour is scarcely ever seen with the orange eye, and we might say never with a dark beak 
— at least, we can never remember seeing such. * 
We come next to the Yellow. Many fanciers would put this colour before the Black as more 
difficult to breed, but we agree with Mr. Jones as to the comparative rank, the Black being so 
much more attractive. It is also to be remembered that all Yellows of the right colour are indebted 
to the Blacks for their colour, it being hopeless to breed really deep-coloured yellow birds from 
almost any of the Reds at present accessible. In fact — and, as in other cases, it is facts which we 
have observed that in all cases guide our opinion — all the best Yellows we ever yet met with were 
bred by crossing with the Black. Of course there are birds called Yellows that are at best only a 
poor mealy colour ; but a true-coloured bird, the same colour on the rump as on the shoulders, is not 
only a most beautiful bird if good in skull properties, but, as far as we have seen, never fails to have 
a bright, deep-coloured, coral-red eye-wattle ; whereas the pale feather is often accompanied by a 
pale wattle. This class of bird usually owes its faults to the poor colour of the R«4s from which 
they were bred. To breed good Yellows, then, get if possible a good Yellow cock, which is 
generally far more easy than to get a good hen ; but endeavour especially to get one with a good 
massive beak, since if this be wanting in the cock, a hen good enough in that point to make up for 
it can hardly be expected. Hence it will be best to choose the Yellow cock young and the hen 
older, in order to get his beak at its best. We lay stress on this point, because, as Yellows are 
very apt to fail in beak, it is the more needful to use every means in order to avoid losing so fine a 
property. Then mate him with a black hen of good properties, older than the cock, by which the 
yellow will be likely to predominate. At best, however, there will be very few Yellow pairs pro- 
duced ; still there will be more yellow birds than if a Yellow hen and Black cock is employed ; 
though this, too, will sometimes breed many yellow birds when the hen is young and vigorous. If 
the cock cannot be got with a thick beak, then the black hen must be chosen with the more care as- 
bcing good in that point ; and Blacks having the best beaks of all, a good match can generally be 
found. Real deep Yellows may be bred together; but though good Reds would be the best cross 
of all, we cannot recommend the use of such Reds as are actually to be found at present, and 
consider the Black cross far preferable. There is, however, one cardinal precaution, which is, never 
to use in such a cross a black bird with a black beak, as we have found such nearly always imparts 
bad colours, the young coming chequered Duns and other bastard colours instead of rich Blacks 
and Yellows. Some of these faulty-coloured birds are useful in breeding, especially in breeding 
back to black; but there is always much uncertainty when once they get into a strain as to what 
they will breed. 
The cross of a Black cock and Yellow hen may also be employed. And when by careful 
matching, and crossing with the richest Blacks, or otherwise, really good Reds can be had, they 
also may be bred to the Yellows with benefit. Both the latter colours have the advantage over 
the Black that they make up more quickly, and are less liable to have faulty-shaped eye-wattles. 
White Barbs are, as a rule, much inferior to all the other colours, in all the characteristic 
