PIGEOXS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 185 



remainder is useless for the show pen. Considerable weight 

 may however be given to the head. 



Do not be afraid of showing imperfect birds. Support the 

 shows as much as possible, they are the backbone of the 

 fancy. 



Carefully avoid a white back bird or one with white feath- 

 er in the short flights. These qualities are very difficult to 

 breed out and will often crop up in the otherwise best spec- 

 imens causing great disappointment. However good a bird 

 may be, unless you are sure his pedegree is of the best, keep 

 his blood out of your stock. When mating up it is well to 

 consider the grand parents as much as the parents of the 

 birds in question." 



