April 7, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTCTRE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



269 



last two of whom have each perused the whole. Mr. Hewitt's 

 skilled eye sees more shows than an; other judge, while Mr. 

 Ord takes many prices, and has at the present time perhaps 

 the most valuable stock of Carriers in the world. 



We gave two years ago an article on the Carrier (vide vol xiv., 

 page 265). Suffice it for us now to say that no birds ever 

 deserved more truly to take prizes than some of those Carriers 

 exhibited during the last few years. There has been a gain in 

 size and strength ; both were laoking a few years since, when 

 the birds shown were too small and pretty ; now it is not so. 

 Whatever doubt there may be as to which variety of fowls 

 should head the prize catalogue, and committees appear to 

 take different views, yet no doubt exists in any Pigeon-fancier's 

 mind that the kingly Carrier must always be placed first. 

 Apart from the different points, there is the Carrier look which 

 marks the first-class bird. He looks not a creature of feathers, 



but like a piece of black marble. We will now give the points 

 in their order. 



1. Wattle. — Broad across the base of the beak, tilting and 

 tapering from the head towards the point of the bill. It should 

 not press on the cere of the eye, as with age it brings coarse- 

 ness. The wattle and cere should be of distinot formation. 



2. The Eye. — Iris bright orange red ; cere, or eye wattle, 

 a oomplete circle round the eye, broad, and equal in width. 



3. Head. — Long, narrow, flat at the top ; the narrower the 

 space occupied by featherB along the top of the head between 

 the eyes the better. In a very superior specimen it will be 

 less than half an inch wide. 



4. Beak. — Long, straight, thick, fitting closely throughout 

 its leDgth when closed ; it is then called " a box bill." If the 

 upper mandible arches, the failing becomes even more and 

 more developed as age increases, so much so, that not unfre- 



D.I/7aiST£i\'iJQLM ■., 





quently the upper bill curves over, and the Pigeon becomes 

 what is generally known as " Parrot-beaked." This defect is 

 by some fanciers thought to be brought on by the birds being 

 fed in troughs, by which no free action of the bill in picking 

 up its food is called forth. Mr. Ord, however, doubts this, and 

 believes it to be hereditary. 



5. Fokm. — Neck long, thin, and very slightly curved. 

 Shoulders wide. Wings strong, and pinions long. Back rather 

 hollow. Legs large and stout. Attitude, erect and graceful. 



6. Colour. — If black, the feathers should be jet colour, as a 

 slaty tinge is a great fault ; and in Duns, a clear colour is moat im- 

 portant, as the feathers should not be at all freckled with lighter 

 colours at the edges, or chequered in the least. Mr. Ord believes 

 that the freckling in Dans is caused by exposure to the sun 

 and weather. His prize birds are kept constantly in the locker, 

 and have not a pale feather; but others, which are allowed to 

 fly about out of doors, are chequered with paler feathers. 



To this excellent summary of the points, clear and full, yet 

 not tedious, little more needs be added. But as a guide for 

 size, we may observe that good judges consider that a cock 

 bird should measure 16 inches from the tip of the beak to the 

 end of the tail, and a hen half an inch less. 



In conclusion, we trust that the engraving and points given 

 will draw the attention of more fanciers of Pigeons to the 

 noble Carrier, for while homing birds and high-flying Tumblers 

 have their interest and value, we hope that never in England 

 will the high-fancy birds be neglected. Foreigners can com- 

 pete with us in Antwerps, but not in Carriers, Pouters, and 

 Almond Tumblers. 



DUMMY FRAMES. 



I assume "our Journal" means the only apiarian paper; 



I therefore beg, as one who has been absent for some years 



