THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 26, 1858. 
PIGEON'S. 
Variety 14.—THE TERN, OR SEA-SWALLOW 
(Coltmba Sterna Hirundo ). 
French. German. 
Pigeon Hirondelle. Hie Schwabben Tattbe. 
This beautiful variety of Toy Pigeon is much esteemed in 
Germany, where a great variety is bred. In France they 
are also known. They have recently been introduced into 
England ; and are now frequently to be obtained. They are 
generally called Swallows ; which name they derive from 
their plumage, especially the blue ones, much resembling that 
of the Tern {Sterna Hirundo), a small species of Gull, which 
is also called the Sea-Swallow. Hence their common name of 
Swallow Pigeons ; by which they are known in Germany, 
France, and this country. 
These Pigeons are slightly larger than the Hovehouse 
Pigeon, which they much resemble in general form and cha¬ 
racter. There is, however, much diversity in their appendages ; 
for some are smooth-headed, while others have fine broad- 
turned crowns. A few are clean-footed, though they are 
mostly heavily-feathered. They are swift and active on the 
wing : but, owing to their large slippers, the majority are not 
well adapted to provide for themselves in the fields. 
As to plumage, the top of the head, the wings, and the 
slippers of such as are feather-footed, are coloured; the rest 
of the plumage being white. 
The upper mandible is darker than the lower. The top of 
the head must be evenly coloured, down to a line from the 
corners of the mouth, across the eye, and evenly round the 
back of the head; or, in such as have turned crowns, quite 
up to the crest, the hood being perfectly white. 
Respecting the wings—they must be wholly coloured : but 
tne. scapular feathers that overlay the shoulders are white, 
giving the coloured wings a narrow appearance, which is 
regarded as a point of much Importance. 
Ihe feet, or slippers, are coloured only from the heel, or 
hock-joint, downwards ; the trousers, or feathers, hanging 
down ; the legs, or thighs, being white. 
The coloured parts are of various shades. The Black 
Swallows have the markings of a fine, glossy, velvety black. 
le blues are also with black bars across the wings ; or, of a 
lght blue, without bars at all: and others have the coloured 
paits red, yellow, dun, or mealy. All the principal colours 
are occasionally bred with white wing-bars j and, I believe, 
s . omo . ^ ^ 1 spangled shoulders : but these are rare, and the 
divisions of colours are not often so regular as the others. 
eie is a sub-variety bred much smaller, with fine broad 
hoods, and their short legs heavily feathered, which are highly 
prized in Germany, and considered quite the high fancy in the 
i way of Swallow Pigeons. 
MM. Loitard and Corbie, the French writers on Pigeons, 
seem to liar e regarded these lesser Terns as a variety of the 
Carmelites, on account of their diminutive size : but a reference 
t° the plates will show the diversity of marking which is the 
on \ pi operty the Toys can boast. I believe these small 
Swallow Pigeons are not bred of so many colours as the larger . 
varieties. 
The German name of “Feen Tauben,” or Fairy Pigeons, 
seems very appropriate to these dwarf Toys. —B. P. Brent. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Cochin-China Fowls (An Old Subscriber ).—Price depends upon 
quality. You may buv them from three shillings to two guineas each. 
AA r e know of very good birds at ten shillings each. _ The same answer 
is applicable to Golden-spangled Hamburghs. Write to any of those 
who advertise their birds for sale. Weight depends upon age. It is 
very early for a Spanish cock to begin moulting now. 
Poultry Produce ( Phlos ).—Your harvest of eggs and poultry was 
very good. 
Poultry for Market ( Gravesend ).—Buy Mr. Baily’s little pamphlet 
on “The Dorking Fowl.” 
Mealy Buff Cochin-China (A Constant Header ).'—The only 
“ harm ” likely to arise from breeding from a cock so feathered is, that 
some of the chickens would be similarly feathered. 
Egg-producing Food (J. L. I ).').—If fowls are kept well, but not 
on too fattening a diet, with plenty of green food, and a sheltered 
yard, you cannot do more to promote their laying. Highly stimulating 
food may induce a hen to lay a little earlier ; but it is at the expense ot 
health and permanency. We say may, because we incline to the opinion, 
that health and vigour will induce early laying quite as successfully \ 
as forcing diet. You will find all we can teach about feeding, in our 
Manual, “ Poultry Book for the Many.” 
Bantams at Bradford (I. H. C .).—The complaint was not inserted. | 
Lop-eared Babbit (A Subscriber ).—If you refer to our No. 439, you j 
will find a drawing and the points specified. 
Golden - spangled Hamburghs with Grizzled Feathers.—“ I 
have, at present, several Golden-spangled Hamburgh fowls, both old 
birds and juveniles, and I have found lately that they are nearly all j 
becoming spotted with white on various parts of their plumage, and | 
tips of their feathers. Would you kindly inform me the cause of this, 
and whether it would be unwise to breed off them this season l Would | 
a Black Bantam cock have any chance of a prize that weighs twenty- ; 
three ounces ? (He is in a very fat condition). I see in the “ Poultry 
Book for the Many,” that twenty ounces are the limit named.”—A 
Yorkshire Amateur. 
[It would have been easier to give an answer to your question, if you 
had stated from what part of the body the feathers you enclose had j 
been taken. These white spots are by no means uncommon on the j 
lower part of the breast, and also on the hinder parts under the tail. 
Few birds, however good, are entirely exempt from them. If they 
show on the back, we should not advise you to breed from them, if you 
want to rear first-class birds. If you do* not wish to get rid of them, 
put them to a dark cock of the same breed. The Black Bantam cock 
would only take a prize when there was little competition. He is too 
heavy. Formerly the^veight was limited to seventeen ounces.] 
Diseased Cochin-China Cockerel ( W. H -, Exeter ).—There can | 
be no doubt that a diseased parent imparts to its progeny a liability to 
the same disease. If, however, the hens are vigorous, and, as you say, 
the cockerel unexceptionable in colour and form, we should rear the j 
chickens. 
Eggs for Setting (A Subscriber ),—If eggs are fresh, that is, not j 
more than a foitnight old, they need not be turned. If it is imperative 
to keep them longer, they had better be turned daily; but the older 
the eggs, the weaker will be the chickefis produced from them. 
Burnley Show.— The first prize for Tumblers at Burnley Show was 
awarded to me for a pair of Almond Tumblers, and not to Mr. T. 
Proctor, as stated in your list of prizes.— Henry Holdsworth. 
Pigeons at the Crystal Palace. —In Class 71, the name should 
have been AY. AY. Towse. 
LONDON" MARKETS.— January 25th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Owing to the present fine weather, we are enabled to report con¬ 
tinued abundance of supplies. AVe have also received this week our 
first consignment of French Salading, in excellent condition; and 
some Cornish Broccoli —first rate ; an article worthily esteemed at this 
season. Hothouse Graj)cs and Pines are quite equal to the demand. 
Forced Vegetables comprise Asparagus, Sea-kale, Rhubarb, and Beans. 
Potatoes remain at former quotations. 
POULTRY. 
Notwithstanding an increase of trade, owing to the presence of the 
Court and the manage festivities in London, the supply of Poultry has 
been quite equal to the demand; and the prices have varied little in 
consequence. 
Each. 
Each. 
Cock Turkeys 
11s. 
0 d 
to 
L3s. 
Od. 
Hares. 
. 2s 
(id 
. to 
2s 
. 9(7. 
Hen do. .. 
6 
6 
9 
0 
AVild Ducks .. 
o 
0 
2 
6 
Large Fowls .. 
5 
0 
6 
0 
Teal. 
. i 
0 
>> 
i 
9 
Small ditto. 
3 
G 
4 
0 
Babbits . 
. i 
4 
99 
i 
5 
Chickens. 
2 
0 
J) 
3 
0 
AVild ditto . 
. 0 
9 
n 
0 
10 
Pheasants . 
2 
3 
9 9 
2 
9 
Pigeons . 
. 1 
2 
5 9 
1 
3 
Partridges. 
1 
6 
9? 
1 
9 
Larks Is. 6 d. to Is. 
9d. 
per 
doz. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, AYinchester, High-street, in the 
Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors, at , 
The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Bow', in the j 
Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—January 20, 1858. 
