i til i ee 
THE PIGEON STANDARD. 29 
THE BLACK FANTAIL. 
Head.— Small fine and snakey, free from peak or shell. 
Beak.—Thin, black and of medium length, the upper 
mandible slightly curved at the tip. ' 
Beak Wattle.—Small and fine in texture. 
Eye. —Pearl or Orange, with very fine dark-colored cere. 
Neck.—Thin, nicely curved and tapering well off as it ap- 
proaches the head. 
Length of Neck.—Corresponding with length of back, so as 
to enable the head to rest closely at the base of the 
cushion, 
Body.—Shape, small and round; back, slightly hollowed in 
centre; length of back, in proportion to length of 
neck, enabling the head to rest on the cushion with 
ease; rump, of sufficient size and strength to balance 
the tail evenly; chest, round Jike a ball. 
Cushion.—Full and massive, the feathers of the front and 
back overlapping each other and extending well up 
the tail feathers. 
Tail.—Slightly concave and circular, elosely filled wtth long 
broad evenly set feathers, well overlapping each 
other. 
Legs.—Moderately short, not stilty, and free from feathers 
below the hocks. 
Feet.—Small, fine and neat. 
Color of Legs and Feet.—Bright red. 
Carriage.—The bird should stand on tip-toes and walk in a 
jaunty manner. Head, thrown back in a graceful 
manner resting closely on the cushion; chest, up- 
right in a straight line with the legs; wings, set on 
fairly low and closely braced; flights, just clearing 
the lowest tail feathers and almost meeting at the 
tips; tail, carried well up not being allowed to drop 
or incline forward; legs, well apart, the hocks being 
forced forward by the action of the body. 
Motion.—Convulsive jerking or twitching of the neck and 
apparent upheaving of the chest, the head seeminy 
to bonnce gently up and down on the cushion, with 
constant tremulous quivering of the body. 
Color.—Jet black throughout, free from rustiness or a cheq- 
uery appearance, and covered with arich beetle green 
lustre. 
Plumage—Hard and tight fitting. 
