THE PIGEON STANDARD. 67 
gradually tapering tothe point where it joins the 
head, 
Body.—The body should be short but strongly built, shoul- 
ders broad, chest well rounded, back broad, flat and 
straight, good depth of keel, the breast bone straight 
and vent bones close up, the whole body from the 
shoulders to the tail having a wedge-shaped appear- 
ance, 
Feather.—Firm and hard. The flights should be short, 
strong and broad, well overlapping each other to the 
end, and when standing should be carried close up 
to the body. 
Tail.—The tail should be short, thin, and closely drawn to- 
gether, straight, and well carried. 
Legs.—The legs should be short, strong and well set, and 
quite free from feathers on the legs and toes. 
Condition.—The bird must bein perfect health, free from 
any deformity, and in a generally hard and firm con- 
dition. 
Carriage.—This should be of bold, upstanding appearance, 
showing a capability of great activity in all its move- 
ments. 
Color.—In chequers the chief colors are blue, black, red, 
yellow, silver and dun. In all these the color should 
be sound throughout, and the chequering should be 
clear and distinct. The whole colors consist of blues, 
silvers, mealies and yellows, the color of each being 
sound throughout, with two broad and well-defined 
bars on the wings. There are also a few grizzles and 
piain whites, 
Faults.—Thin or horn-colored beak, coarse or ill-shaped 
wattle, soft pale cere, red, gravel, lemon or hard eye, 
thick throat or gullet, frill or open feathered neck, 
long, swan neck, long shaped body, crooked breast 
bone, long soft feather, heavy or wry tail, white or 
pied rump or hocks, and other mismarkings, long, 
storky legs, web feet, crooked claws or toes. 
Note.—Birds when exhibited should be in perfectly natural 
condition. To cut, trim, alter, or in any way improve 
by artificial means is altogether unallowable. Pied 
birds should be shown with their respective colors, 
