246 FANCY PIGEONS. 



hand than average-sized common flying Tumblers. They 

 vary a little in size, like every other variety. 



Carriage. — Croppers have the most upright carriage of 

 any variety of pouting pigeons I know of. They occasionally 

 overcharge their crop with wind when young, but generally 

 soon grow oiit of this habit. Slack-winded birds are almost 

 unknown among them. So long as they keep in health they 

 remain in show, and in this respect present the greatest con- 

 trast to large Pouters. For the most part they walk perfectly 

 upright, their mngs being carried tightly to their sides, and 

 their flights never crossed at the points. They are, however, 

 inclined to carry their wings rather low, thereby not showing 

 so much of their belly and thighs in profile as is desirable. 

 The flights ought not to reach to the end of the tail by nearly 

 an inch, long-flighted birds being bad fliers. It is noticeable 

 that the best flying varieties of pigeons, such as Blue Rocks, 

 Tumblers, Dragoons, Antwerps, Triganicas, and Croppers, are 

 all rather short in flights, long wings being impedimental to 

 pigeons in their flight, whatever they may be to some other 

 kinds of birds. The tail of the Cropper is carried as shown 

 in the drawing, and seldom any higher. In stretching itself 

 to its utmost height, it often walks on its front toes only, the 

 back ones being off the ground, or just touching it, resemb- 

 ling in this respect the Uploper, regarding which Moore says, 

 *' that when moving you may put anything imder the Ball of 

 its Foot." Its style of movement so far resembles the Pouter's ; 

 but it is allowable for the Cropper to spring off the ground 

 when playing to another pigeon, and this it often does in leaps 

 of 3ft. or 4ft. across the floor, opening its wings on its way, 

 and quickly closing them as it alights. This leaping, which 

 is so ungainly in the Pouter, is executed with such expertness 

 by the Cropper that it is pleasant to see them perfoi-m it. 



Feather. — The Cropper is found in eight principal pied 

 colours, all of which are admired, because they are all beautiful. 

 Four of these are solid colours, and the others are their 



