241 POUTING PIGEONS. 



them after the breeding time. Every bird intended to be 

 shown must, therefore, be penned up separately, the cocks 

 being placed out of sight of the hens ; and by often talking to 

 them, using such expressions as "hip, hip, hoo-a, hoo-a," and 

 at the same time snapping the fingers, a good-tempered pigeon 

 soon becomes very tame, and shows up whenever called upon. 

 A proud hen, that will stand quietly on the hand, may also be 

 carried round before the cocks, which soon puts them on their 

 mettle; and it is well to allow all penned-up birds out occa- 

 sionally, so that they may stretch their wings. It is a bad 

 practice to put one's hands in the pens and allow the birds to 

 peck at them ; this gets them into the habit of always jumping 

 off their blocks, and coming to the front of their pens, on the 

 approach of anyone. Pouters are naturally familiar birds, 

 few of them refusing to become very tame if any trouble is 

 taken with them; but perseverance and judicious treatment 

 must be exercised, and kindness accorded to such as keep 

 long shy and stubborn, for they will not be driven into show- 

 ing. The late Mr. Montgomery, of Belfast, said: "Pigeons, 

 like other animals, have got tempers ; a sulky, bad-tempered 

 bird will never be a winner in a show-pen, and I question 

 the propriety of breeding from such birds, as they transmit 

 this peculiarity as well as others." As to breeding from such, 

 everyone will, of course, be guided by circumstances. I fear 

 good Pouters will never be plentiful enough to allow any hard- 

 and-fast line to be drawn against breeding from one possessing 

 a particular fault, if good otherwise. 



The Norwich Cropper. 



The Norwich Cropper is a pigeon which is found in its 

 purity in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It has 

 hitherto been undescribed by name in any book treating of 

 English pigeons, though quite distinct from the large Pouter ; 

 but some allusions are made to it by Eaton, who was evidently 

 sensible of its great beauty and fine style. The Uploper and 



Y 



