SCANDAROONS. 
34 * 
to this is an additional curve, springing from the bill’s point to the highest rise of nose-wart, and 
this, too, must be clear and well defined. The neck is narrow and gracefully curved, the front 
being neatly scalloped out in a clear course, neck, jaw, and beak running in one continuous sweep; 
and the back of neck, too, is formed of a nice curve, in which the line of head also is included, in 
one unbroken course, without lumps, bumps, or any inequalities whatever. The eye is large and 
bold, and surrounded with a series of bright, red-coloured, fleshy circles; and this feature is a great 
point in the breed — the more intense and bright the colour of eyelash the better; and this redness, 
too, should run along the line of mouth, and more or less pervade beak and wart throughout ; this is 
more especially noticeable in all young birds of this variety, and should remain traceable to the 
greatest age. 
“ Of Scandaroons there are various colours — self-coloured Reds, Yellows, Whites, Blacks, Blues, 
Silvers, and Pieds, or party-coloured ones. These latter I think the more preferable, providing they 
are perfectly marked, as in them a double novelty is observable; for, independent of the head and 
beak properties of the self-coloured ones, the pied markings of themselves are singular. 
“In the Pied varieties there are Blacks, Reds, Yellows, Blues, and Silvers; in all these 
marked ones the eye is dark, and the beak pale flesh-coloured. The head and upper part of 
neck finish ofif in a narrow pointed strip of white in front and centre of the neck. The entire 
wings, from shoulder to flight-tips, are white ; from a clear line across the lower part of breast, 
belly, thighs, and to vent also, is white. All else is black; thus, upon these Pied birds, from the 
shoulders, or scapularies, should be a well-defined coloured ‘saddle’ as in Magpies. The Blacks 
and all the coloured birds of this type are remarkable for the depth, richness, purity, and uni- 
formity of their colour. In the Blacks it is intense; the Reds, deep rich chestnut; the Yellows, rich 
and pure ; and the Blues, clear and free from mossy markings or specks of black ; and, as a rule, 
the various colours, whether pied or self-colours, answer fully to the colour requisites. The best 
pied specimens of Scandaroons which I have seen were the property of F. H. Paget, Esq., of 
Birstall, near Leicester, whose Red hen, being (with her mate) many times victorious at shows, was 
chosen for portraiture in this volume. The self or solid-coloured ones are more numerous, and 
have fallen into the hands of many fanciers, and have likewise been shown successfully ; but, 
beyond their novel appearance, they are not taking birds, I suppose simply because they are not 
beauties, which fact certainly cannot be denied ; still they are worthy and remarkable Pigeons. 
The Whites have dark eyes. All the self-coloured ones have orange eyes, are of superb feather 
colours, rich, pure, and bright as varnish, and, amongst a group of others, stand in bold relief as 
singular specimens. Aye, beautiful even in their ugliness ! 
“ These birds I believe to be of Persian origin. They are strong and vigorous, breed well at 
liberty or in confinement, and raise their own young very well ; are strong on the wing, fraternise 
comfortably, and cross well with other sorts, and thrive well with no more than ordinary attention. 
I delight in novelties in the shape of Pigeons, and I should like to see spring up a better ap- 
preciation of such amongst others of the fancy. According to the light and knowledge within us, 
we are permitted to do much in practising with our pets ; much has been done, much more can be 
accomplished. We have but to conceive certain peculiarities of form or feather, assure ourselves 
they are in strict conformity with the laws of reason and nature, and in harmony with the colour 
combination, or with the anatomical construction of the genus, lay down our plans, and, above 
all, plod on and persevere until the ideal is gradually developing into the real and desired object. 
In this work there are various processes, many tools, and, it may be, numerous ingredients; look 
well to each process, dispense not with any of the tools, nor dispose of any of the rough composition ; 
for although in the course of manufacture the produce at each stage exteriorly may be mere wasters, 
