294 FANCY PIGEONS. 



considered a disqualification hitherto; but the question is one 

 for breeders to settle among themselves. 



When the beak wattle of a Carrier grows unequally, or 

 when its eye wattles become overhanging, causing it to be 

 beetle-browed, cutting and carving them into shape is some- 

 times practised. Pigeons made up in this way ought, of 

 course, to be disqualified if exhibited, the object of all shows 

 of fancy stock, such as pigeons, poultry, or dogs, being to 

 encourage natural, not artificial, excellence. Carriers cut in 

 the eye wattles for spouts are, however, on a different footing. 

 They have undergone a necessary operation, which should not 

 disqualify them in competition. But as it is an object to 

 breed the true rose eye which will not spout, one cut for 

 that fault ought to be heavily handicapped in competition, 

 as being a bird likely to perpetuate spouting eyes in its 

 produce, and, therefore, not of a desirable type. 



The Bagdad Carrier Pigeon. 



My acquaintance with the Carrier Pigeons of Bagdad has 

 been confined to such as were brought to Bengal by Arab 

 ships from Bussora, during my residence in Calcutta. The 

 best I have seen were those I mentioned as belonging to 

 the Jewish merchant, Mr. D. J. Ezra. I occasionally saw an 

 odd pair or two elsewhere, but they were always inferior to 

 his, and would be more correctly described as heavy Dragoons 

 than CaiTiers. They went by the name of Bagdadees, from 

 their native place. Mr. Ezra, from his position and influence, 

 would be able to obtain the best birds, and I have no doubt 

 that those in his aviary fairly represented the breed. He 

 had about six or seven pairs, some of which were matured 

 pigeons. They were all blues with black bars, most of them 

 rather dusky in colour. I could see no difference between them 

 and English Carriers as regards size and general character- 

 istics. The old cocks had heavy beak wattles and fair eye 

 wattles. Their faults were those of forty-nine out of every 



