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NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :1— Jan., 1912 



Fis;. 6. English Poutkk. 



on the necks of Turbits, Owls (Fig. 

 1), and similar breeds, the crests 

 of the Nuns, Turbits, and others, 

 and in the hood of the Trumpeter 

 and Jacobin (Fig. 2). In the for- 

 mer case, the feathering reminds 

 one of the Polish fowl, while in the 

 second the hood forms a rufif 

 around the head, which, in many 

 cases, almost hides it from view. 

 The Frill-back reminds one of the 

 so-called Frizzled fowl, and is char- 

 acteristized by the "conspicuous 

 reverse growth of the feathers cov- 

 ering the shoulder coverts, all of 

 which in graduating proportions 

 appear as if they had been curled 

 evenly with curling-tongs." In some breeds, there is a heavy 

 growth of feathers, three and one-half to four inches in length, 

 on the legs and toes. This is spoken of as a ''muff" and resembles 

 the booted condition of certain breeds of fowls. It is especially 

 well developed in the Muffed Tumblers. The great development 

 of feathers in the tail of the Fantail (Fig. 3) pigeon is familiar 

 to every one. 



Among the variations in other structures may be mentioned 

 the eyes, which are red in the wild form and in some of the 

 domesticated ones, such as the Homer, which in many respects 

 seems most closely related to the parent stock. In Tumblers the 

 iris is white, while in the Owls and Turbits the eye is black. In 

 the Carrier (Fig. 4) the eye wattle is greatly developed and the 

 cere on the beak may be as large as a small walnut. The bill 

 of the Scandaroon is enormously developed, while in the Short- 

 faced Tumblers and Owls it is so short that they are unable to 

 feed their young, and in order to raise these birds it is necessary 

 to turn the young over to a pair of some better feeding breed, 

 which may act as "nurses." 



In habits also, there has been considerable differentiation. 

 The Homer (Fig. 5), as the name implies, is remarkable for his 

 homing instinct, that is, the ability to return to the home locality 

 from a considerable distance, with certainty and in the briefest 

 possible time. All pigeons in strutting about and cooing have the 

 ability of distending the crop to a greater or less extent by forc- 

 ing air into it. In the Pouter (Fig 0), this characteristic Has 



