234 FANCY PIGEONS. 



primaries being common. Several strains nave also an extra 

 primary flight, and I have had many with eleven flights a 

 side. 



CARRIAGE. Having stated what constitutes good shape in 

 a Pouter when seen standing still in a show-pen, or on 

 the floor of his loft, I now proceed to describe the way he 

 ought to carry himself when in motion. Regarding carriage, 

 Moore expresses himself as follows: "Besides the five Pro- 

 perties before mention'd, there is another, which tho' not 

 generally allow'd, will be found to be one of the best, I 

 mean the Carriage." A Pouter which is not formed on good 

 lines, and is not well-proportioned, can never look well, how- 

 ever he may carry himself ; but, however well he may be shaped, 

 it does not follow that his carriage will be right. Shape and 

 carriage are, therefore, separate properties, as Moore states. 

 The crop being well filled, the bird may, as he plays up to 

 his hen, begin to "bufle," as Moore describes it, or to choke 

 with wind by overfilling his crop. He then sets up the feathers 

 at the back of his neck, and struggles from side to side, en- 

 deavouring to free himself from the encumbrance. Some birds 

 are much addicted to this fault, and will, unless caught up and 

 relieved, by their beaks being opened, and the air pressed out 

 of their crops, remain in such a state for half-an-hour at a time. 

 Some birds, though naturally possessed of capacious crops, 

 never fill them, but allow them to hang down like an empty 

 bag. These are said to be slack-winded, and, as Moore says, 

 " appear not much better than an ill-shap'd Runt." A Pouter 

 as he plays must keep himself perfectly upright, so that his 

 head is perpendicular with his feet ; he must on no account 

 jump oft* the ground as he plays, but walk in a very dignified 

 way, with his tail slightly spread out. A grave fault in 

 carriage is jumping off the ground as he plays, which is gene- 

 rally accompanied by rumping, or setting up the feathers of his 

 back and rump, the tail at the same time being tucked under 

 him, and dragged along the ground. All these faults are 



