The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
294 
in all points are perhaps the most scarce in this variety ; which as a rule is behind other colours, 
especially as regards peak-crested birds. It is, however, easily improved, as there are easily to be 
found really grand shell-crested specimens, which are also as a rule stronger and more vigorous in 
constitution than the peak-crests. We would therefore advise the fancier to first match a fine 
Shell-crested Black to as good a Peak-crest as he can get ; and if he can find a good peak-crest in 
the cock, and on a young and vigorous bird, so much the better : if otherwise, let the hen be the 
more vigorous of the two, that her properties may have the predominance ; though we must say 
that, owing to their vigour of constitution, difference in age has less influence in this pigeon than 
in most others. However, get if possible a good peak-crest in the cock, and choose the hen for 
her colour and markings, skull, frill, &c. As to her crest, there are now almost as few really perfect 
shell-crests as peaks. The true shell-crest should reach all round the back of the head from eye 
to eye, ending on each side in a nice finish. Even the best of such crests do not look so attractive 
as the peak, in our opinion, though pretty and finished-looking ; but in the anxiety of fanciers to 
get the peak, three-fourths of even so-called shell-crests are half-and-half ; but this very fault will 
make it so much the easier to breed good peaks from them than if the shell-crest was the proper 
shape, since the less the crest comes round the back of the head, the less trouble will the breeder 
have in getting the peak upon the progeny. The peak cn the other bird, we need hardly say, 
must be naturally good, for there can be little chance of breeding any quality from parents neither 
of which really possesses it, and the more so with a property which is itself rare. 
Of course some will say, why not match parents both possessed of a good peak ? Well, in the 
first place, it is not so very easy to get even two .good peaks ; but our chief reason is, as before 
stated, that very few birds with really good peaks are possessed of the other qualities of the Turbit 
as we wish to see them, and as we do see them in many shell-crested birds. Hence we want to 
combine the good properties of each strain into one ; and as all the best birds we have seen were 
bred as we advise, and we have personally succeeded in thus producing at least two grand speci- 
mens, the mode of proceeding seems to us clear. Of course, when anyone may really have good- 
peaked birds, possessed of all other properties he desires, we would not advise him to cross with 
the shell. The point is too easily lost for that ; and when the desired combination is once attained, 
it must be kept up in the usual way. Even a chance shell-crested bird bred from such a formed 
strain, if good in other properties, would be a valuable stock-bird, as the progeny would probably 
go back to peaks if crossed with a good Peak-crest, and might be matched to such, even though 
deficient in head, beak, gullet, or frill, which are the great properties of the Shell-crest, while, on 
the other hand, the Peaks are often better in clean thighs and flights. So each bird should be 
selected as perfect as possible in its special properties ; when of the progeny we would select the 
peaked bird which came nearest to the desired points, and breed it to the peaked parent, while, on 
the other hand, we would take the best Peak to breed to the Shell-crested one. We would even go 
as far as to breed the grand-daughter to the original Peak-crested cock, carefully choosing her for 
the beak, &c., which we had sought in the shell cross, in order to get the peak-crest well grounded 
in the strain ; and by these means, the breeder would be able to keep to the same strain for a good 
while, and be able to judge how to rectify every want that appeared. 
When the head and similar points are got right, it is possible the markings may be somewhat 
aulty. If so, care must be next given to breed together those most free from foul feathers ; and, 
of course, if the breeder’s means and accommodation have allowed him to match up from his first 
materials several pairs, one adapted to secure one point, and another some others, he can proceed 
with much more certainty, as he can probably find from the progeny of these just what he desires. 
Thus he may get from one pair matched for head properties, a bird with peak and beak and gullet 
