CHAPTER XXV. 
GERMAN TOYS. 
We have often been asked what is meant by a “Toy” pigeon, and as the birds treated of in this 
chapter are perhaps the best representatives of the class, it may be well to take this opportunity 
of answering the question. We have heard the character attributed to birds which attain all their 
properties at an early age ; and this definition does include a great deal of What is meant, but 
would, on the other hand, make the Pouter a Toy, which is not the case. The best simple 
definition of a Toy is, perhaps, a bird possessing properties only of feather and colour ; but even 
this is not quite correct, since the Owl family, for instance, have important properties of skull, as 
well as those belonging to feather. Perhaps, on the whole, we carl best explain what is meant by 
saying that a Toy is a bird whose properties interpose no natural difficulty to obtaining in the 
desired combination, beyond the simple one of getting some desired marking. Thu9, the short 
head of the Owl causes no particular delicacy or difficulty in rearing, and it is therefore a Toy ; 
but the short face of the Barb both makes the young difficult to feed, and is particularly difficult 
to obtain in connection with a “ big ” wide head and good eye-wattle ; this is, therefore, a “ high- 
class” pigeon. In some “Toys” there is a great deal of difficulty in obtaining the desired 
combination — as, for instance, the mane of a Jacobin with the small size ; such are accordingly 
termed “high-class” Toys. 
We confess we think the term in some respects an unhappy one, as calculated to cause a 
feeling somewhat akin to contempt for a large class of birds which perhaps include in their ranks 
a greater amount than any other of real artistic beauty , and are peculiarly apt to fascinate 
strangers, and lead them into a most pleasant and profitable pursuit. -Without, however, further 
discussing this point, we give without further comment the full notes of Mr. J. W. Ludlow on 
what are usually grouped as the German Toys, reserving for separate description three varieties — 
the Magpie, the Nun, and the Archangel, which, though originally of the same class and from the 
same locality, have become so naturalised now as almost to be regarded as English pigeons, and 
have at least usually separate classes at all good shows. These latter, with the Runt, will con- 
clude our survey of the pigeon family. 
“ It is with pleasure that I contribute a little information relating to the large number of pigeons 
which have hitherto been carelessly, and perhaps unjustly, bundled as it were together under the 
above heading. The whole, as a group, form a vast and most important section of show pigeons, 
yet what little attention has been bestowed by British fanciers on their culture, and what an 
inadequate share of attention also has been directed towards the class into which these 1 German 
Toys’ (if exhibited at all) are compelled to be drafted ! I allude, of course, to that most interest- 
ing and most instructive of all classes, the ‘ Variety Class,’ which hath its own charm and special 
allurements to all true and experimental fanciers, whose aim is not merely confined to improving 
old and established breeds (where needful and possible), but also to propagate neiv beauties, or aid 
