Breeding Turfuteens. 
3 1 9 
from parents of one colour should be freely mated, as they ought to be, with birds of dissimilar 
colour, viz., a bird bred from a pair of Blacks should be crossed with a bird bred from a pair of 
Reds, and a bird bred from a pair of Reds should be crossed with one bred from a pair of Yellows, 
thus you have black mated to red, and red mated to yellow. As a rule, never breed from a black 
and a yellow, but if you want to improve black mate it with a black or red bred from a black 
and red ; if you want to improve red, mate it with a black or red, bred from a black and red ; 
if you want to improve the yellow, mate it with a red or yellow bred from a red and yellow. Pair 
also two reds bred from black and red, and two yellows bred from red and yellow, and continue 
to observe which colour requires strengthening, and by following the above plan your success is 
certain. 
“The Barred varieties also should be crossed discriminatelv, Blues with Silvers, and red- 
barred with yellow-barred. 
“ I have enumerated all the colours I met in the east of Europe and Asia Minor ; but now, 
besides the Blacks, Reds, Yellows, Light Duns, and Blues, no other colours are cultivated, and only 
occasionally you meet odd specimens of the other colours, which have nearly disappeared, espe- 
cially the chequered varieties, which never fascinated the taste of those worthy judges of form 
and colour to whom we are indebted. 
“ So far as the head-markings go, I should think that fanciers can select and breed what they 
like best, but their aim must be either one spot on the forehead or this spot with two equal side 
markings, which in my opinion should include the entire cheeks, as the feathering therefrom con- 
verges in another direction. Evidently till now the British fanciers are eager to possess perfect show 
specimens for the 1 Variety class,’ and I am surprised that their principal value has been so far over- 
looked. Now, amongst the importations there are occasionally some with very little head-markings 
(the quantity and shape of these markings being of no great importance in their native land), but 
in colour and form equal to the best show specimens. I am therefore surprised that no British 
fancier has crossed these birds with the British Turbits. Are they frightened at their muffs and 
head-markings ? If so, I trust they will now cease the fear, when they know that these properties 
were imparted into them, and are in consequence the easiest to eradicate. I hope therefore that 
within a short period we shall see all the British Turbits possessing the same form and colour. 
“All the head-marked birds should possess (from the nest) a dark beak, in accordance with 
the lightness or depth of their respective colours. 
“ These birds being of the active flying varieties, should be treated as I have previously 
described. 
“ Having now given a complete description of the several varieties for consideration, together 
with hints as to their breeding and management, there remains but little more to be added. 
I have not kept a careful record of the actual number of birds which I have been the means 
of introducing into this country, but apart from the birds which I myself had from abroad, 
and the number I had sent to me during my residence in Manchester, I think I may say that 
upwards of 250 pairs have reached these shores through my instrumentality, the whole of which, 
excepting fifty pairs, have passed into the hands of my friend Mr. J. W. Ludlow, who is an 
ardent lover of pigeons generally, and of these beautiful creatures especially. He in his turn 
procured for me a fine collection of Almonds and Short-faced Tumblers for my own edification 
and amusement, and I may say that these mutual interchanges of stocks have not in the slightest 
degree been prompted by any pecuniary consideration, but simply and purely by a desire to extend 
and cause to flourish the love of all pigeons amongst the fanciers of both countries, where the 
