ion I'K.KONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



natural sequence that this should be so, a hollow back caus- 

 ing a bird to be well knit together. Such a Pouter as need., 

 must, carry himself well and strip his limbs when showing to 

 fullest advantage." 



Alter all, there is not so much change in what have al- 

 ways been considered the great "points" in the pouter. For 

 we find in the first American standard ever published, that 

 the committee gave the greatest points ( 12 each ) to "slen- 

 derness of girth" and "length and shape of legs" and then 

 came "size and .s7m/ie of crop" 10 points. This was in pied 

 birds. In off colors and whites 14 points each were given 

 to the two first mentioned properties. 



I think that the following description of a young pouter 

 cock, imported last year, gives briefly what constitute* a 

 typical Pouter. The enthusiast who saw him says, "He is 

 extra long, well marked, splendid, clean, well-feathered 

 limbs, and stands when in position like a picture. For 

 roundness of globe and slimness of girth we have never seen 

 his equal." 



Urieily, the above is the Pouter 'for which all are striving. 

 It tells the whole story. 



There is much variance of opinion as to the breeding 

 qualities of Pouters. Some claim that they are no good, ana 

 their young must be hatched by other pigeon: , but imn.y 

 good bleeders take * nly one egg, and allow the old pair to 

 raise the other. It is claimed that the percentage of loss is 

 i.o greater than in any well bred pigeon. Sone good author- 

 ities claim that it interferes with the shape of a Pouter, to 

 allow it to feed its own young. Yet we should remember 

 that nature expects something of die kind from eveiy pig- 

 eon whether it be artificial or not, and the Pouu r is no ex- 

 ception. 



I do not think that too much feeding of young is a good 



