PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 97 



right carriage, a long slender vaist, with wings tightly fit- 

 ting, and clean and tapering at the points, and not loose and 

 cocked out. If I could put the desideratum in Pouters, into 

 one word, I would use the word "symmetry" for that covers 

 it. 



I would point to all breeders that the proper bird consists 

 of tapering lines, with no unsightly breaks, from skull to end 

 of tail feather. 



As to legs. Xo longer do we have the insane idea that 

 great boots are a necessity. I think they detract from the 

 looks of the bird, and interfere with the lines of harmony. 



Mere length of 1 nib does not count. A long leg may be 

 et on badly, or it may lack the graceful bend. A shorter 

 leg set on right, knees close, with stocking boots, is far 

 nearer the ideal. 



The globes of the present day, are nearing perfection with 

 each generation. The great, coarse, rough, loosely hanging 

 globe has been relegated to the past, and it is now shapely 

 and conforms to the appearance of the rest of the bird. What 

 is far more important, the bird carries his globe in front, 

 and not partially on the back of his neck, thus spoiling his 

 balance. 



As to color, the day when a badly built bird, the markings 

 of which were perfect, could win, is past. The best fanciers 

 only care for a color distinctive enough to show in which 

 class the bird should be entered, and that done, they trust to 

 his contour and his training. It is hard to say which color 

 is the most popular. As stated, color is the last thing now. 



In impressing the beauty of the hollow back I quote 

 George Ure, who is surely a standard authority. He says 

 "the hollow back is a sure sign of good breeding, and a bird 

 possessing this is sure to have other good points. It is a 



