266 FANCY PIGEONS. 



upriglit than with, the Pomeranian. "With both races white 

 feathers occur on the wings; yet this is considered a defect 

 in the Pomeranian, while with the English this mark is highly 

 valued. But this mark is only the result of a careful choice 

 in breeding, continued for years, and is very difficult to fix; 

 it occurs in England in the wished-for perfection veiy 

 seldom, and is only known to me by description and pictures 

 from English prize birds ; while I have never met with this 

 mark, in specimens shown in Continental exhibitions, in 

 anything like such perfection. If we place an English and a 

 Pomeranian pattern bird together, the first must positively 

 please us most, not on account of its beauty, but on account 

 of its peculiarity, which consists therein that the bird, with 

 its great length, and upright bearing, shows a very voluminous 

 npper body, and a high, thin, under body, both of which are 

 only joined by the slender figure. Dr. Bodinus says : ' The 

 English Cropper gives the impression of a large, beautiful 

 statue placed on a small pedestal,' and I find this very striking. 

 The Pomeranian Cropper, on the other hand, appears very 

 compact, firm, and powerful, yet shows in the parts of its 

 body, and in its whole appearance, such great harmony as I 

 have never seen in any other race of Croppers, with the ex- 

 ception of the striped Hollanders" (whole-coloured Croppers 

 v^ith white, long bars). " If we examine more closely the whole 

 impression of both races, we find that in both the character 

 ■of the nation is exactly expressed. The Englishman likes the 

 unusual and peculiar, and the Pomeranian (especially the 

 ^ew Fore-Pomeranian) likes the less striking, but compact 

 and strong; and from these motives in the breeding both 

 races have evidently arisen. After having seen that the total 

 impression with each race is quite different, we find that the 

 differences in the single parts of the body are* not important. 

 This circumstance lets us know that both races are nearly 

 related; therefore, there remains only the question whether 

 •one race descends from the other, and which has been the 



