364 
The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
sprightly, as if lightly constructed, and somewhat tall on the legs, like a Priest ; and when handled 
the bird appears smaller still. 
The most remarkable characteristic of the Archangel proper, however, is in the plumage, which 
is something quite different from that of all other varieties; the proper colour is a deep rich copper 
over head, neck, breast, and body, excepting only the sides of the wings and tail, which should be 
of a bronzed black. This, however, refers to the colour merely : the lustre defies description, and 
when the bird is seen in the sun, displays almost all the colours of the rainbow, with a bright 
metallic glitter, more resembling, perhaps, that of “ shot silk ” than anything else we can call to 
mind, and putting on a change of hue with every change of position. The black shoulders are 
nearly as beautiful as the rest, showing all kinds of blue, green, and bronze reflections; and in 
particular this is the only pigeon that exhibits such lustre on the rump, which in most birds is 
the dullest part of the plumage, but in the Archangel seems to show the same brightness as the 
rest. To be seen as we describe very much depends upon the condition of the bird, which of 
course must be in good health, and with nice tight plumage, to show to advantage. The tail is 
often stated to be of the same bronzy black as the shoulders ; but though we have seen several 
specimens that deserved to be called perfect in all points but this, we never yet have seen a single 
bird with such a tail. The best we have seen have been a dark bluish-black colour, a distinct 
black bar being seen at the end as in Blue or Blue-black pigeons. We have seen hundreds, but 
never one yet free from this fault, though some of them, when in the show-pen, looked almost 
black ; but even this was too often owing to treatment by the owners, and in all cases close 
inspection would show the black band. This point, therefore, still remains to be if possible 
vanquished by fanciers, since it can hardly be doubted that the pure metallic black tail is the 
standard desired. 
Besides the deep and glossy copper colour, there is another well-known colour of the Arch- 
angel, which may be best described as a soft yellow, something like a soft-coloured Dun Tumbler. 
This colour shows very little or no lustre, however ; and as this is the most characteristic property 
of the breed, we consider it a very great error ever to place it over fair birds of the proper descrip- 
tion, as we have once or twice seen done at shows. It is, however, of some value for breeding. 
The tail of this lighter colour is apt to be still more blue than that of the other. 
We have had in our possession at different times other so-called varieties of the Archangel : 
some pure white, others with the head white and also the flights, the rest of the body being as in 
the Archangel proper. In Germany a variety with the head, neck, and breast coloured, and the 
rest white, is known, and described by Brent as the “ coloured-breasted ” pigeon ; but all these, 
in our opinion, are mere crosses, losing much of the true Archangel lustre even in the coloured 
portions ; and as this is the principal beauty of the pigeon, we think such crosses ought not to 
be encouraged until they at least show better results. It is, we think, very probable that to a cross 
with the Archangel is due the peculiar lustre of the Fire Tigeon. Crossing with it is well worth 
the attention of the Toy fanciers. As a rule, the first cross seems to lose nearly all the peculiar 
lustre which is so attractive, but care and patience would in time probably produce novelties of 
value, as in the example just quoted. We have also frequently thought that a cross with a long- 
faced Almond Tumbler might perhaps produce the spangling of the Almond with the lustre of 
the Archangel ; and if so the cbmbination would be most attractive, and well worth the trouble 
to those who like to experiment, like the Germans, in creating new varieties. 
Most of the best Archangels are to be found in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, which 
may at present be considered as in some sort the head-quarters of the breed. 
