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PIGEONS. 91 



pleasing in its appearance nor graceful in its proportions; 

 indeed, the inflation of the voluminous crop, rendering an erect, 

 stiff, and apparently constrained attitude necessary, gives an 

 aspect of distortion, or a want of a due balance of parts. 



The pouter is of large size, often measuring eighteen inches 

 in length from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail. The 

 chest is not really voluminous, though it appears enormous 

 when the crop is distended with air ; the back is concave, and 

 the tail ample ; the tarsi are very long, and covered with downy 

 feathers. These pigeons are of various colors, as blue, rufous, 

 pied, or altogether white. Those birds which are tall, erect, 

 with a very ample crop, and with the colors of the plumage 

 regularly disposed, and according to certain fancy rules, are 

 esteemed the most valuable. 



The pouter is formed by a cross between the "dragon" and 

 the " old Dutch cropper," which latter bird, except in the 

 development of the crop, (whence its name,) had nothing to 

 recommend it. From this intermixture, not without much care 

 and expense, has resulted this favorite variety. The flight of 

 the pouter is buoyant, but not rapid, nor capable of being long 

 sustained. As varieties of the pouter, or rather as breeds 

 allied to it, may be mentioned the " uploper " and the " Parisian 

 pouter," said to be a beautifully-marked bird ; but with these, 

 I have no personal acquaintance. 



Pouters are very expensive birds to rear, as the strain will 

 soon become degenerate. As the old birds pay little attention 

 to the wants of their young, it frequently happens that the tiny 

 creatures are starved to death. Careful fanciers, therefore, never 

 allow them to hatch their own eggs, but shift them as soon as 

 they are deposited under a hen " dragoon," that has lately 

 laid ; and place the eggs of the latter bird under the pouter, in 

 order that she may commence incubation ; otherwise, she will 

 lay again in a short time, which, often repeated, would, in all 

 probability, kill her. Every pouter must be kept by itself 

 during the winter season; and their coops must be lofty, so 

 that they may not acquire a stooping habit, which is a very 

 great fault. In the spring, every pair of pouters must have 



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