227 POUTING PIGEONS. 



the appearance of which I shall describe, and the arguments 

 connected with which I shall discuss, when I come to write 

 about it. In the meantime, I shall describe what constitutes 

 a perfect English Pouter, which, even on the Continent, where 

 many varieties of the family exist, stands confessedly at the 

 head of them all, and by many in this country is considered 

 the finest, noblest, and most beautiful of all pigeons. 



As will be shown, the great run on the Almond Tumbler, 

 about the middle of last century, was the cause of the Pouter 

 being to a great extent neglected in London; and the fancy 

 for it appears to have languished from that time, till at 

 last the breed nearly disappeared thence. About the year 1830 

 Scotch fanciers began to breed this pigeon, and ultimately 

 got it almost entirely into their own hands. At that time, 

 some of the linen manufacturers of Dundee brought home with 

 them from London which place they were in the habit of 

 visiting annually by way of trade many fine Pouters, which 

 have been described to me, by those who remember them, as 

 stylish birds, good in colour and marking. At the same time, or 

 soon afterwards, fanciers in the West of Scotland also began 

 breeding Pouters, and from 1860 to 1870 the fancy for them may 

 be said to have reached its zenith in Scotland. Soon after the 

 Glasgow pigeon shows were established, or about 1860, English 

 fanciers went into Pouter-breeding, but for some time were 

 obliged to draw their supplies of stock birds from Scotland, 

 the breed being next to extinct south of the Border. As 

 records will show, this was so much the case, that the Pouter 

 was for years often quite unrepresented at the annual exhibi- 

 tions of Metropolitan pigeon societies, the members of which 

 confined themselves to the Carrier, Short-faced Tumbler, Dra- 

 goon, &c. At the present time, Scotland and England may 

 be said to divide between them the breeding of Pouters ; but 

 in London, the very home of this variety, and where it was 

 undoubtedly produced, so far as I know, there are still few 

 who keep them, with the exception of the large dealers. Irish 



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