275 POUTING PIGEONS. 



The Prague Pigmy Pouter (Die Prager Kropftauhe), " also 

 called the Stork Cropper, is not much larger tlian the Briinner ; 

 the legs are of the same height, and, along with the toes, 

 somewhat feathered. It is either one-coloured, with white 

 wing-bars, or, like a stork, white with mottled, mostly reddish- 

 brown breast, flights, and tail. It comes from Bohemia, and 

 frequently very strong blowers are found among them." 



This pigeon, of which Neumeister gives a coloured portrait, 

 is represented as a barelegged, very upstanding Cropper, with 

 red crop, flights, and tail. The head and upper neck are light, 

 the colour gradually deepening towards the lower neck. 



The Dutch Balloon Pouter [Die Holldndische BaUonJcrojjf- 

 taube) *'is, in the first place, distinguished from all other 

 Croppers by its peculiarly short, round form, and bent back 

 neck. Its length is 32^ centimetres (13in.), the length of its 

 leg 14 centimetres (5^in.), the weight of the body up to 

 383igrm." (13ioz.). 



" The head is smooth, the nape very powerful, the neck 

 bent back as with the Fantail, even when not blowing, and 

 this is the first characteristic mark of the Balloon Cropper. 

 The breast is correspondingly protruding and broad. The crop 

 has, when inflated, a diameter of 12i-15 centimetres" (Sin. 

 to 6in.). " The flights do not reach the end of the tail, and 

 are somewhat crossed. The leg is shortly feathered, and the 

 colour and markings vary. It stands with stiff legs, and rather 

 low, and walks with dignity, nodding very much. In flying, 

 it holds its head and crop upright, which lends to the pigeon 

 the appearance of a balloon ; hence its name. All other 

 pigeons stretch their necks out horizontally when flying, and 

 this deviation from the rule is its second characteristic mark. 

 It propagates badly. In Holland, much care is spent on its 

 production ; in Germany less, as, on the whole, this pigeon does 

 not make a very fine impression." 



B 2 



