160 FANCY PIGEONS. 



come midway between common pigeons and large Runts, 

 being from 2Lb. to 31b. a pair. 



The following varieties of the Hiihnertauben, or Fowl-shaped 

 Pigeons, are described by German writers : 



The Maltese Pigeon. 



Die Maltliesertaube (the Maltese) is of the size of a small 

 English Bantam fowl, with a smooth head, somewhat long 

 and tapering ; a truncate beak, strong nasal skin, deep set eyes ; 

 fleshy, red eyelids; a somewhat projecting crop, broad back; 

 round, arched breast ; small, short wings ; strong, smooth, red 

 legs and feet ; and a very short tail, standing up straight over 

 the pinions of the wings, and seeming as if cut off short with 

 scissors. The lower part of the body behind is, as with 

 the domestic fowl, thickly provided with down. The whole 

 form is globular, almost as broad as it is long, and very high- 

 legged. The Gallinaceous Pigeon has a turned-up rump, 

 like the Fantail Pigeon. It takes long steps, and its bearing, 

 gait, and the movements of its head, are like the common 

 fowl. It propagates well, and brings up young ones all the 

 year round, except during the moulting season. The plumage 

 is, with the pure original race, self-coloured white ; next to 

 it comes the whole-coloured blue. With other coloured ones, 

 as black and brown, its characteristics are weakened. These 

 birds are chiefly found in the neighbourhood of Linz. 



Judging from Neumeister's illustration, these birds would 

 appear to weigh something like 31b. per pair. He figures a 

 variety called the Kleine Maltheser, or Little Maltese, which 

 appears little bigger than a common Tumbler. 



The Florentine Pigeon. 



Die Florentiner oder Piemontesertaube (the Florentine, or 

 Piedmont Pigeon) is a peculiarly marked variety. The head 

 and neck, the shoulders, and the tail are coloured. This 

 marking is also found in other pigeons, such as the Modena 



