PIGEONS. 85 



found to degenerate, and are liable to run into still more 

 distant and less-valued races. 



Among the numerous varieties kept in aviaries by fanciers, 

 which are deemed worthy of being perpetuated by breeding 

 distinct, the following are held in particular esteem :— 



THE BROAD OR PAN-TAILED SHAKER. 



This beautiful variety of the pigeon tribe receives the name 

 of " fan-tail," from its habit of spreading out the feathers of its 

 tail like a turkey cock, (for the same reason it is called Pigeon 

 paon by the French,) and that of " broad-tailed shaker" from its 

 breadth of tail, and a peculiar quivering motion of the neck, 

 which is regarded as the attitude of courtship. From this 

 motion, it is also sometimes called by the French Pigeon 

 trembleur paon. 



This bird has a full breast, and a short, handsomely-formed, 

 arched neck, which it carries in a graceful swan-like curve. 

 Its tail, according to the rules of the fancy, should consist, at 

 the least, of twenty-four feathers ; and at the most, of thirty-six, 

 which number it should not exceed; for, if the tail be over- 

 crowded with feathers, the bird suffers it to droop, a defect 

 never overlooked, although the specimen may be faultless in 

 every other respect. 



Fan-tails, whose plumage is pure white, are more highly 

 prized than those displaying red, yellow, blue, and black-pied 

 colors ; their carriage of the neck and tail being considered by 

 far the most striking and elegant. 1 



