340 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
Docks, but all the lot have been black-and-white marked — as per coloured plate — therefore if (as it 
may be) there are others, I infer that at least the majority would be Blacks. In general formation 
they are large and plump, but are heavy, sleepy-looking birds. The beak is thick, the nostrils 
expansive and rather flattened, not rough, raised, or wrinkled ; the forehead is high, the skull 
widish; the eye dark, with slight cere around, and that of a reddish tinge; the neck is rather short; 
the shoulders very wide, and apparently powerful ; the back broad ; the body of an acute thick 
wedge shape, or Barb-like in form and pose ; the legs are short, and the feet look strong. In 
markings they are peculiar ; the upper mandible of beak is dark, the lower white, or rather pale 
flesh-coloured; the whole of upper part of head is black, running in continuation of line of mouth, 
at the back of ear, and extending right down the back of neck, the division line of black and white 
being about midway of neck when the bird is viewed in profile ; when seen from behind, black, 
and in front, white. The entire lower jaw right round the ear is white ; front of neck, entire breast, 
belly, thighs, vent-covering, tail, and back also pure white, thus leaving the entire wing and back- 
coverts, or ‘ saddle,’ jet black. One would at a glance be almost disposed to believe that this 
breed (from the very remarkable division line down the neck) was of too singular a character to 
expect to be perpetuated, because, contrary to the markings of most pigeons, it forms no part of 
their anatomical construction, there being no definite line to work to ; but still Lahores are a 
distinct and permanently established variety, and breed as true to their peculiarities as any other 
kind. They are hardy and prolific, quiet and domesticated, and capital feeders, as a rule, I 
believe, but having kept two pairs only, and those only for one season, I cannot speak positively 
for them as a body; but my own were estimable nurses — the oldest cock would, without much 
solicitation, at all times befriend any neglected squeaker that would wag its little wings before 
him. Judging from their flying capacity within bounds, I should imagine them to be easy in 
action and of enduring powers. There are not many Lahores in this country, for although they 
are birds of good size, of decent shape, and strongly contrasted and well defined in markings, 
they are not particularly striking in any particular; consequently, among the countless gems of 
form and feather, the poor Lahore is not often chosen. 
SCANDAROONS. 
“These are large, Roman-nosed birds of symmetrical outline, yet, withal, conspicuously strange 
and ugly. They are about the size of a good-sized Carrier, and in general characteristics much 
resemble those birds. They are big, fine, upstanding birds, having thin and gracefully-curved 
necks, wide and prominent shoulders, well separated from the chest; body rather long; legs also 
long, and feet large ; indeed, as I have said, in many points they feature Carriers, appearing, at a 
glance, as big, down-faced, inferior birds of that tribe. The head, however, is the chief peculiarity 
in the Scandaroon. A good bird of this kind should measure nearly two inches from the centre 
of eye to the tip of beak. The entire head and beak should be of a hooked character, from back 
to front, in one clear sharp curve ; in fact, the longer the beak, and the more bent, crooked, or 
‘down-faced,’ the better the specimen is esteemed. The beak, although considerably curved, must 
be thick and close-fitting. The nostrils are, as in the Carrier, long and loose, and with age grow 
and often assume the rough, corrugated, warty excrescence of Carriers ; but it rarely ever develops 
upon lower jaw, nor is it desirable that it should do so, because if it grew thereon it would 
tend to straighten the appearance of beak, and thus destroy the desirable, singular, yet main 
feature of the tribe. The head is narrow across from eye to eye, and the profile should present a 
clear, unbroken, downward curve from occiput to beak-tip ; in the cock birds, the wart, of course 
rises ofttimes considerably with increased years; but still the first grand sweep of head remains, and 
