THE VARIOUS BREEDS 57 



the homer and carrier pigeon, the latter being 

 considered by many of them as the king of 

 birds. His name comes from the regal car- 

 riage of his head and not from carrying mes- 

 sages as many novices suppose. In appearance 

 he is totally different from the homing pigeon, 

 having a much longer neck, large wattles aj 

 the base of his beak, and much cere about his 

 eyes. In order to have this cere the proper 

 whitish bloom, which is one of the most valued 

 points of the carrier, and not tinged with pink, 

 the fancier keeps his birds secluded from the 

 deteriorating influences of sun and outdoor air. 

 This is a most unnatural life for a pigeon and 

 when followed makes the birds delicate and 

 susceptible to disease. Exposure to the at- 

 mosphere also shrinks the cere. These points 

 take five years at least to mature, though three 

 years will determine their character. 



The carrier has long been highly bred in 

 England and greatly esteemed there. The colors 

 of the carreir are solid black, blue, and white. 

 The black by contrast brings out the bloom of 

 his wattles to much better effect than the other 

 two. 



THE BARB 



Although the barb is considered to be the 



