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CHAPTER XV. 
THE JACOBIN. 
This is a very ancient variety, botli in England and on the Continent, the name of both the 
perfect variety and sub-varieties (such as Capuchin) evidently related to it, conclusively showing 
that the origin of all alike was the resemblance of the white head under the hood to the shaven 
head covered by a cowl. Moore describes it as follows, after mentioning what he calls the 
Capuchine and the Ruff as evidently related to or derived from it : — 
“The Jacobine, or, as it is vulgarly called for shortness, ‘the Jack,’ is, if true, the smallest of 
all pigeons, and the smaller still the better. It has a range of feathers inverted quite over the 
hinder part of the head, and reaching down on each side of the neck to the shoulders of the 
wings, which form a kind of fryer’s hood ; from hence this pigeon has its name Jacobine, because 
the fathers of that order all wear hoods to cover their bald crowns : hence the upper part of this 
range of feathers is called the hood, and the more compact these feathers are, and the closer to 
the head, so much the more this bird is esteemed. The lower part of this range of feathers 
is called by us the chain, but the Dutch call it the cravat. The feathers of this chain ought to be 
long and close, so that if you strain the neck a little, by taking hold of the bill, the two sides will 
lap over each other in some of the best; but there are but very few now to be found in England 
compleat. The Jacobine ought to have a very short bill, the shorter the better, and a clear pearle 
eye. As for the feather, there are reds, yellows, blues, blacks, and mottles ; but be the feather 
what it will, they ought to have a clear white head, white flight, and white tail. Of these pigeons 
some are feather-legged and footed, others are not, and both sorts are equally esteemed, according 
to the various inclination of different fanciers.” 
So far Moore, from whom it is quite plain that except the allowance of either feathered or 
bare legs, the best pigeons known in his time were, in all but one point, practically the same as 
now known. That point is the mane, the want of which is proved not only by all absence of even 
mention of it, but by the preference shown for extreme smallness of size, which, as we shall 
presently state, is incompatible with great excellence in mane. Having, then, noted this difference 
between the ancient and modern pigeon as interesting, we proceed without further preface to 
describe the Jacobin of the present day. 
We have always considered the Jacobin the first in rank among Toy pigeons, as they are 
called, having, as before said, taken the Barb out of that category altogether. We do so both 
because of its great intrinsic beauty, and the number of properties apart from mere colour which 
are required to constitute a first-class bird : in this last respect there is but one other bird 
which can be compared with it — the improved or Russian Trumpeter. This high excellence is 
chiefly the work of English breeders ; for though, after comparing old Moore with Mr. Brent (who 
spent much time in Germany) and others, it seems to us most probable the breed originated on 
the Continent, no one can deny the immense advance in nearly all points effected by the fanciers 
of England, and we can safely say we have never seen a single imported specimen which could be 
