270 FANCY PIGEONS. 



wise occurs only one-coloured, yet there it has thin legs, less 

 feathered, and short toes, standing close together. The gait 

 of the cock is tripping, and he leaps towards the hen. It is 

 of a very erect bearing, slimly made, and high-legged, because 

 it carries its thighs outside the plumage of the belly. It 

 inflates its crop very well, and it assumes an oval, cylindrical 

 form. The wings do not reach the end of the tail, are narrowly 

 drawn together, and their points cross over the tail. The Dutch 

 Cropper, in its erect posture, when strongly feathered on the 

 legs, resembles a falcon at rest. It is a very cheerful pigeon, 

 fond of flying, of flapping its wings, and especially of swoop- 

 ing along, floating with high held wings. It is a pretty good 

 breeder." 



THE AUSTRIAN KLATCHER (Der Oesierreichische Klatscher] 

 "is between the Dutch and German Croppers in size, and a 

 powerful pigeon. Compared with the Dutch, it is broader built, 

 heavier, has shorter, unfeathered legs and feet, does not stand 

 so erect, has longer wings, and inflates its crop in the same 

 way as the German. One might take it for a cross-breed 

 between the German and Dutch Croppers; but such is not 

 the case. Its plumage is distinguished by being glossy and 

 glittering; it is entirely self-coloured, and never shows white 

 pinions, or any white on the head, which would be the case 

 if it were a descendant of the German Cropper. It is a very 

 good breeder, very lively, and when flying the shortest distance 

 it flaps its wings, so that it is heard from afar, like the 

 Ringbeater. It occurs in Switzerland blue, yellow, and white." 



THE PRAGUE MAGPIE POUTER (Die Prager Elster-Kropf- 

 taube). " This Cropper, which has become very rare, is of a 

 structure between the German and Dutch breeds, standing 

 higher than the latter, and having well-feathered legs and 

 feet. It is a good pigeon for breeding, very lively, and has 

 the manner of the Dutch Cropper." The illustration of this 

 Cropper represents an upstanding, rough-legged, Magpie-marked 

 back. The marking is exactly the same as that of the Magpie 



