• 
  Drawings and texts by J.L Frindel, 1989.

COMMENTS TO THE STANDARD
OF THE DAMASCENE (page 1/4)

As comments, I will remembered the " breeding method " such as it had been proposed, few years ago, and while having make light modifications, according to the level of the last showbirds.

GENERAL VIEW : Damascene must give the impression of a short pigeon, of medium size, with the chest enough broad and full.

The " alertness" must be striking, with the contrast of the: white - ice, blue - black, and red ruby colors.


Shape : The short pigeon shape must especially be made by:

- a broad and full chest, enough convex between the elbows of the wings.

- a height of legs to average, quite spread legs.

- a neck, not so long and a back (tail) do not too long.

- view on the top, the back must be broad to the shoulders, and be thinned backwards.

HEAD : It must be in harmony with the body, i.e. broad and full to the frontal. Of side view, it is oval shape, without flat part, not angular (flattened on the top).

The face shouldn't be long, nor thin. In cock, the head is more male, i.e. that the frontal is more pronounced from wattles before the curve of the top of the head.

In hen, it is necessary to keep a broad frontal and sufficient substance above the eye.

The purpose, is to produce Damascenes which keeps quite round head, even when catch in hands.

• By J.L Frindel, 1989.

COMMENTS TO THE STANDARD
OF THE DAMASCENE (page 2/4)

ALERTNESS : The cere eye is double, of blue black, colour harmonizes with beak colour.

In some old subjects, cere texture is not so regular and has tendency has to fade in any area.

The young birds, or to one year old, must have a good coloring of the cere eye, more visible after elimination of the feathers powder which is fixed at it easily.

The eye must be red ruby, in the ideal case ; however a narrow yellow circle around the pupil is still acceptable, provided that the external part of the iris is quite shiny red, without parts or yellow spots. This last coloring, just as the dull or too dark eyes are defects which depreciate the subject according to their importance.

DEWLAPS : The base of the neck must be quite full, and constitutes a racial figure.

A " frill " throat or a gutturale slit constitutes defects. Some birds require a manual checking (light traction) of the presence of the dewlaps, especially in cock.

COLOUR : The color should be neither cloudy, shaded on the neck. A withish belly is not a defect.

Wing and tail bars quite black are in correlation with a more intense colouring rump. However, the backgrown color on the neck, by subject movements or its handling, do not constitute defects.

The black bars are not lusters, following the important presence of powder on the feathers.

They are broad and well drawn (regular) but do not have to be too broad and to mixed each other. The remiges are quite dark and raise the quality of the overall color.

• By J.L Frindel, 1989.

COMMENTS TO THE STANDARD
OF THE DAMASCENE (page 3/4)

More about : I would like to give some additional details on the Damascene shape, the most important point in the selection of our " mascot ".

Indeed, I had the occasion to visit, in 1986, with our friend Reiner FUCHS, the German showbirds, in Rüdesheim, where 235 subjects were showed :

100 young cocks, 35 adult cocks, 79 young hens and 21 matures hens.

I have several observations which will have to be used for a better comprehension of the race and especially on its selection.

First : my point of view about Damascene did not change, and it always agrees with Reiner FUCHS one, and with my colleague judges of the club and my friends breeders ; has to know : Damascene is an Eastern pigeon and it always " mysterious " part, which emanates especially from the beautiful birds.

This was the case to Rüdesheim, I do explain : a beautiful cock had this oval head, the thick beak, the cere eye broad and dark, the ruby eyes, the strong and short neck, the full chest, the quite black bars on a homogeneous color, and the body, this famous body shape which very expresses this pigeon, and Reiner FUCHS said : " looks at this Oriental body! " Eh well, this body was not, in fact, so short.

It proves that the oval head shape, " length ", with the thickness neck and consequent back neck, is also accompanied by a certain " smart " in shape.

Indeed, " very short " pigeons did not have the oval head, but round, French Mondain style. However the " round " term is not synonymous to " round " in term given in the breeders words.

This personified " dash ", or " elegance " in these Damascenes did not have anything in common with a long back part, all was proportion and harmony.

The short aspect was well given by a good legs height, a good width shoulders and chest, and a sufficient, but not exaggerated overall length. " All is in measurement!... "

• By J.L Frindel, 1989.

COMMENTS TO THE STANDARD
OF THE DAMASCENE(page 4/4)

Drawings by J.L Frindel.

Goob beak et fontal base, but the top of the head is flat.			Thin and lenghtened head . Lack stronger above the eyes.
				Sloped face, pointed beak et too right.
	So short head, nore oval. Thin beak and right down face. cere eye so width or big.
	Ideal type.				Lenghtened bird with good head et regular bars.

Par J.L Frindel.