PIGEONS. 



669 



Mr. J. M. Rutted says, in the Poultry Monthly, respecting this variety of pigeons: 

 &quot;The ideal Fantail of competent judges is a plain-headed pigeon uniting perfect Scotch 

 style and a typical English tail. Few fanciers know how peculiarly difficult is the produc 

 tion of such a combination. Fine white smooth-head Fantails are one of the scarcest varieties 

 of pigeons I know of. In an experience of over nine years, I have seen about a dozen which 

 had a fair claim to being first-class, and I have made it my business to see every noted bird 

 within reasonable distance, besides numerous visits to exhibitions. The most necessary point 

 of the breed is a short back. Many breeders will differ from this, and put tail first, but unless 

 the tail is carried squarely upright, no matter what its size, it never shows to any advantage, 

 and a fop-tailed Fan is often beaten in the show-pen by a short-backed bird with half the 



WHITE FANTATL PIGEON. 



spread. Next in turn comes spread of tail, and not tail count. Twenty -four feathers flatly 

 expanded and forming three-quarters of a circle are much more valuable than thirty-six in 

 that narrow stove-pipe shape so much detested by veteran fanciers. And the actual money 

 value of the former would be twice that of the latter, which fact may interest some pigeon 

 keepers who look at the profits only. Third in importance is carriage, style, action, or what 

 ever term you are pleased to apply to continuous nervous motion, a well-expanded breast, a 

 neat head and neck thrown well back and down to the root of the tail, and a succession of 

 elegant curving outlines best described by that most significant word symmetry. The feet 

 and shanks as far as the knee-joint should be bright red and free from feather, but the best 

 often have a few scattered tufts, showing that the Booted Fantail of India was probably one 



