354 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
ones having fair quills of four inches in length. Such is a point difficult to breed, but tells 
well upon the specimen thus produced. 
“ The featherless-legged Spangled Ice are termed ‘ Ural Ice.’ Why it is so I have failed to 
discover, though, to be candid, I have not made any literary search therefor, lest I might get 
entangled in sundry jaw-breaking, foreign derivations. Many of the Ice varieties have been 
mixed up together, hence we see so many imperfectly-spangled birds. It is often difficult, I know, 
to avoid losing one good point in aiming at another. Feather-leg and pencillings have been the 
critical parts in breeding : how to borrow the heavy leg-feathering of the plainer birds and see it 
perfectly and permanently fixed upon spangled specimens is the difficulty ; for however much 
may be gained, something occasionally must be lost ere the desired unity is achieved, and it is 
fanciers only who can accomplish it. 
FRILLBACKS. 
“These are of different colours — White, Black, Grey or Grizzled, and Sandy, amongst which 
the best specimens are found more especially in the two last-named sorts, which, whilst in colour 
plain and unattractive, their feathers are invariably curled or twisted to a remarkable extent ; 
and this, doubtless, has been achieved by a systematic course of mating together the best curled 
birds regardless entirely of colour. There are both crowned and plain-headed Frillbacks, clean- 
legged, medium, or heavily-muffed. Blacks and Whites are frequently shell-crowned, whilst the 
Grizzles more often are plain in head. In size they are similar to Ice, appearing perhaps a little 
larger by reason of the outstanding curls. Head, neck, and saddle, whilst being a little ruffled, are 
not so well crimped as the sides, but the great object is to obtain entire curling, and I have seen 
specimens upon which it has unmistakably been attained. The eye is coloured. 
SPOTS. 
“ Of this kind there are Black, Red, Yellow, and Blue, feather-legged and plain. They have a 
beak of medium length, rather more straight than most of the aforenamed kinds. The upper 
mandible is black or coloured, the lower white. They are white pigeons, with dark tail to a 
line across the rump and vent. There is also a well-formed, central, oval ‘spot’ of colour upon the 
forehead extending from the nostrils. The eye is dark hazel. Perfect accuracy in the markings, 
with depth and richness of colour, may be said to be the only two points, and unless good in those 
parts, they are almost worthless; if crested (as some are), that feature must be of good formation, 
well raised, and well outspread even upon its ridge for a shell ; and needle-pointed, well raised, 
and perfectly upright and central for a point-crest. 
HELMETS. 
“ These are of rather smaller size than Spots, and partake more of the shape of an ordinary 
medium or pleasant-faced Tumbler, clear-legged, with plenty of daylight seen beneath them. They 
are more erect in carriage, less wild and unmanageable, good breeders, the produce being fairly true 
to markings. They are white birds, with a distinctly-marked coloured ‘skull-cap’ or ‘helmet’ head- 
covering, commencing immediately at the nostrils, running through the eye, and continuing 
around the ear, and terminating in a well-finished curve at the back of neck. The tail, from a 
clear line around rump and vent, is black or coloured. The eye is a brilliant, pearly white. They 
are active birds, a flock of which, composed of the various colours, presents a peculiar and 
striking appearance. 
“ Having now described the chief characteristics of the several German varieties, I think 
