PIGEONS. 89 



flesh round the eye is very thick and broad, it shows that 

 the pigeon will prove a good breeder, and will rear fine 

 young ones. 



The properties attributed to the carrier, and prized by 

 fanciers, are three in the head, three in the eye, three in the 

 wattle, and three in the beak. The properties of the head con- 

 sist in its being flat, long, and straight; for instance, if the^head 

 be very long, narrow, and flat, it is reckoned, in shape, perfect; 

 if the contrary, it is termed a " barrel head." The properties 

 of the wattle of the eye are its breadth and circular, uni- 

 form shape ; for, if one part appear to be more scanty than 

 another, it is termed " pinch-eyed ;" and is of comparative little 

 value; while, if it be full, even, and free from irregularities, it 

 forms a " rose eye," and is highly prized. The wattle should 

 be wide across the beak, short from the head to the point of 

 the beak, and lean a little forward from the head ; as the bird 

 is said to be " peg-wattled" if it lie flat. The beak must be 

 black, long, straight, and thick ; if it be an inch and a half in 

 length, it is considered a long beak, but it must never measure 

 less than an inch and a quarter; if the beak be crooked, (hook- 

 beaked,) or spindle-beaked, the value of the bird is much 

 diminished. This variety, in general, is either dun or black in 

 color, although white, blue-splashed, and pied specimens 

 occur ; the black and dun birds are usually the most perfect 

 in their properties; but as the blues, whites, and pieds are 

 very rare, even inferior birds of these colors are of consider- 

 value. 



THE HORSEMAN. 



Many fanciers suppose the " horseman " to be a cross 

 breed, either between a tumbler and a carrier, or a pouter 

 and a carrier, and then again bred from a carrier. In 

 shape, it resembles the carrier, but it is smaller in all its 

 proportions; its body being less, its neck shorter and the 

 fungous-looking flesh round its eyes not exuberant, so that 

 there is a greater space between the wattle on the beak, than 

 that round the eye. 



