ne ore tima 
xI PHENOMENA OF ORGANIC NATURE 413 
selves out in this way; and I think it is about as 
droll a sight as you can well see to look at a cage 
- full of these pigeons puffing and blowing them- 
selves out in this ridiculous manner. 
This diagram is a representation of the third 
kind I mentioned—the Fantail. It is, you see, a 
small bird, with exceedingly small legs and a very 
small beak. It is most curiously distinguished by 
the size and extent of its tail, which, instead of 
containing twelve feathers, may have many more, 
—say thirty, or even more—lI believe there are 
- some with as many as forty-two. This bird has a 
PY Sm arm 
66 
curious habit of spreading out the feathers of its 
tail in such a way that they reach forward and 
touch its head; and if this can be accomplished, I 
believe it is looked upon asa point of great beauty. 
But here is the last great variety,—the Tumbler; 
and of that great variety, one of the principal 
kinds, and one most prized, is the specimen repre- 
sented here—the short-faced Tumbler. Its beak, 
you see, is reduced to a mere nothing. Just com- 
_ pare the beak of this one and that of the first one, 
the Carrier—I believe the orthodox comparison of 
the head and beak of a thoroughly well-bred Tum- 
bler is to stick an oat into a cherry, and that will 
give you the proper relative proportions of the 
_ beak and head. The feet and legs are exceedingly 
small, and the bird appears to be quite a dwarf 
_ when placed side by side with this great Carrier. 
These are differences enough in regard to their 
