The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
temptation to abstract a feather or two at the dangerous line ; but this pigeon, being tight-feathered, 
will not allow of a great amount of trimming, since such can easily be detected on blowing up the 
plumage at any suspected place, or, rather, a little below it. The flights and tail are longer 
than ordinary, especially in early-bred birds. These are also larger, which some prefer, while 
many other fanciers like a small bird. For our part, we would care little about this (except for a 
leaning to the hardy side), but judge the bird by its properties, only stipulating for a long and 
snaky head and beak. The legs, as in the majority of Toys, are bright-red and clear. 
We prefer the Black to all other colours ourselves, believing this to be the colour the pigeon was 
bred for , and that the others are only sports or offshoots from it. We have, in fact, known all the 
colours produced from Blacks, as in Barbs. The Blues we value least, as being destitute of that 
lustre which adds so much to the contrast of colour ; but Yellow is, doubtless, the most difficult to 
breed of a good deep tone, as in all varieties. The fancier who breeds Blacks, however, will be 
the most likely to produce deep rich colours both of Reds and Yellows, besides the parent stock 
being more attractive when flying about ; and he will have probably quite as many Blues as he 
wants, which colour few people breed for if others can be procured. 
Magpies are well adapted for all fanciers who like a “ pretty ” bird, and can afford but little 
time for their pets ; being very vigorous, needing scarcely any care, sure breeders, and good 
feeders. Give them food, and keep them fairly clean and they need no more ; while they will bear 
in-breeding to any extent desired for getting marking, which will, however, give little trouble. 
These qualities may strongly recommend the birds as feeders to those who keep varieties like 
Short-faced Tumblers or African Owls, and they are perfectly adapted for such a purpose. They 
are to be had at a cheap rate, and most fanciers would prefer something uniform and pleasing to 
the eye to a lot of all manner of cross-bred or mis-marked birds. 
In breeding, two birds low-cut should never be matched. A bird too high-cut is seldom seen, 
so that those generally called “ high ” may be matched together, and low-cut ones only matched to 
the highest cut which can be got. Blacks may be bred, as usual, either with Yellow or Red, being 
careful to select rich colour in both cases, without which the colour, which is so great a point, 
can hardly be expected. 
JUDGING MAGPIES. — When of equal quality in different colours, we think Black should 
stand first, not as the hardest to breed, for that distinction belongs to the Yellow, but as the 
premier bird. The rest as follows : — 
rOINTS IN JUDGING MAGPIES. 
Beak : shape, length, colour . 
Head : shape of . 
Eye : colour of, i ; of eye-cere, 
Accuracy of marking 
Colour and lustre . 
Length of flights and tail 
9 
6 
3 
3 
2 
26 
