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"The
Saint: Gem Of The Americas"
By:
K.D. Spurling The
Saint is a breed of fairly recent
creation upon the North American continent in the loft of H.P. Macklin, in
the era of the 1950's. Itis itional level.
not well known that "Mac" was
actually trying to create a breed
exhibition tumbler long before the
Saint was born. The late Joachim io establish a
Schutte said a few words about the
"breed before the Saint", in his worldly and impressive
"Handbuch der TaubenRassen-die TaubenRassen der Welt" and refers
to it as the "Macklin Tumbler."
When Mac actually wrote about the bird in the APJ, back in the 'nization
has 50's, he referred to it
as simply cd about our "Macklin's Folly", and that he had given up on the
bird after 20 years of work.
He also ended with news that fanciers were not to worry, for he had on
would like another project
going on and that "other" project is the breed
that are no longer became
known as the "Saint." Technically, the Saint did not begin as a
planned creation. In his younger days, Mac was an enthusiastic breeder and
importer of rare varieties and
a true lover of Toy pigeons. At
one point, he was trying to introduce
vigor into a family of Schmalkalden Moorheads via White Jacobin.Ultimately,
the resulting crosses became the breed today known as the Saint. Mac also
introduced Frillbacks into the breed and the effects are still seen in
many birds today in that they express a small amount of frilling in the
wings.
Years ago, the Saint possessed a specialty club, but it is
unfortunate this club disintegrated, the Saint
become rarer and rarer each year. They are seen at RBPC meets on a
few rare occasions, but in Macklin's own words: "they are withering
away on the vine." The Saint is one of the real gems of the pigeon
world and it is a breed that was created on this continent. Its present
state of endangerment is not only very unfortunate, but also very, very
embarrassing to the American Fancy. If a poll was given to 100 fanciers
that asked them to name the most valued and influential fanciers in
Ametican history, the name of H.P. MackIm would appear 90% of the returns
and perhaps, only the name of W.M. Levi, would be named before his. It is
insulting that the American fancy cannot preserve and make popular the
creation of a man who played a major role in building the fancy and it has
got to be worse for H.P. Macklin to see his creation fade away, while he
is nearly powerless against it. IF
WE DO NOT PRESERVE OUR NATIVE BREEDS-NO ONE ELSE WILL AND THEY WILL BE
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