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CHAPTER XXVI. 
THE MAGPIE. 
Among the varieties known generally as German Toys, the most, which have usually to compete 
in a class for “ Any other variety,” have been conveniently treated of in one chapter ; but as 
there stated, we reserved for separate mention such as have by degrees attained an amount of 
popularity which has gained them at most shows a class to themselves. These are the Magpie, 
the Nun, and the Archangel ; the former especially being now so numerous that it deserves to 
be called almost an English pigeon. 
The name is no doubt derived from the resemblance to the well-known “bird of mischief” in 
startling contrast of colours, and also in the brilliancy of the dark portion, which is greater in this 
bird than in almost any other variety, except the Archangel and Fire Pigeon, the green lustre on 
the Blacks more especially being very remarkable. There are besides Blacks, Reds, Yellows, and 
Blues ; but none of these show such lustre as the Black, nor to our fancy such a pleasing contrast 
of colour ; and the Blue especially is generally of a dark sooty colour. In all the markings should 
be alike ; and no pigeon breeds more truly in this respect, the cause of which we believe to be the 
nearly equal distribution of white and dark plumage. 
The head and beak of the Magpie should resemble in shape those of the Blue Rock, viz., both 
rather long, and not, like some birds now seen, as if crossed with the Tumbler ; the short head and 
beak being directly opposite to the appearance of the bird, which there is no doubt the first pro- 
ducers of the Magpie desired to imitate as nearly as possible. The beak should in all colours be 
flesh-tint, except a little streak of vandyke-brown on the top of the upper mandible, and if even 
this be absent, all the better ; for we have always found that the birds with light beaks were best 
in colour of the body, and those with dark beaks generally of dull or bad colours, besides having 
too much of the dark plumage, the colour reaching too low down the breast. The Magpie itself, it 
is true, has a black beak, and we would find no fault if the pigeon too had a jet-black beak, but 
rather prefer it, could we get this with the colour of the body ; but as it is not so, we cannot sacri- 
fice the bird’s chief property to a dark beak. In any case, we should consider the colour of the 
beak alone a very small point in competition. The eye in all varieties should be a clear pearl, or 
what is called, when in perfection, a nice “ fish eye,” with a small red cere round it, and those with 
red or gravel eyes will generally be found faulty in beak. The dark marking is alike in all the 
colours, and begins with the head, extending down the neck and breast, but not so low as in the 
Baldhead. It should end in a sharp, clean-cut line across the breast, which, we hold, should be 
just under the butts of the wings. Some are too low-cut, which arises from the opinions of some 
judges obliging fanciers to breed for different styles ; but as the rather high-cut style shows 
the marking much better, it is to be hoped it will be generally received. The colour extends 
down the back and shoulder-coverts, and on the wings or sides, to the end of the short flights ; 
and the tail and lower part of the rump are also coloured ; the line of division here also, 
and everywhere, being required clear and sharp. To attain this accuracy, few can resist the 
