261 POUTING PIGEONS. 



quite different forms, and therefore divided into the following 

 varieties :" 



THE OLD GERMAN POUTER (Der Deutsche Kurz und GlaUfils- 

 zige Kropfer] " is one of the largest Croppers, of considerable 

 height. Its length 55 centimetres " (21fin., 36in. = 91 centi- 

 metres), " and breadth of outspread wings. 105 centimetres. It 

 passes for the original race of all the remaining Cropper kinds. 

 The round head is mostly smooth, sometimes with a pointed 

 hood, brow high, bill proportionately short, neck very long, 

 and, along with the crop, strongly hung with hair; breast 

 and back broad, the latter somewhat hollow. The crop 

 always puffed up, hanging somewhat forward, has a diameter 

 of 12^-15 centimetres, and a circumference up to 42| centi- 

 metres. The short, strong legs, are unfeathered ; the wings, 

 carelessly hanging down, overreach the tail end by 5 centi- 

 metres. This is the characteristic mark of the German 

 Cropper, and is not found in any of the following varieties. 

 The usual colour is either white, or blue with white head or 

 tips, yellow with a white tail and head, or black. It is very 

 much to be lamented that this pigeon, in its pure state, seems 

 almost to have disappeared, as it is never represented at the 

 exhibitions. The propagation is extremely poor. The main 

 cause of its disappearance is likely owing to change of 

 fashion, in consequence of which breeders have turned more 

 to the slender, high-legged kinds." 



This breed is represented, on Plate XI. of Neumeister's 

 " Das Ganze der Taubenzucht," in four colours white, yellow, 

 red and blue ; the two last have turn crowns. The coloured 

 birds have white heads, nights, and tails, but are dark thighed. 

 They are short, and bare in limb. 



THE BRESLAU POUTER (Der Breslauer Kropfer) "comes 

 nearest to the preceding, is of stately size, generally speaking 

 is one of the largest Croppers, yet not long in body, nor do 

 the pinions reach beyond the tail, so the dimensions are much 

 less. It occurs one- coloured and marked, in the latter case 



