EASTERN TOY PIGEONS. 195 



The Common Runt, as seen at shows, is simply an immensely 

 large common pigeon, and prizes are usually given to weight 

 alone. We have seen 2 Ibs. 9 oz. scaled. The colours shown 

 are blue with black bars and silver with brown bars. They 

 are dangerous pigeons to keep with other varieties, being rather 

 ill-natured and very powerful. They are not very good breeders 

 or nurses, and the best way to get fine ones is to give one 

 squeaker to a pair of good Dragoons or Aiitwerps. The Hunt, 

 from its great size and length of feather, is sometimes crossed 

 with the Pouter, to give that variety size, even now. 



By crossing Runts with common Dove-house pigeons a 

 mongrel Hunt has been produced, called by the French Pigeons 

 Mondains, which does breed well, and is bred and fattened for the 

 French markets. When three weeks or a month old the birds 

 are crammed, after a week of which they put on a surprising 

 amount of flesh. The crammers usually fill the birds from the 

 mouth with millet (or millet and tares) kept in water, taking a 

 mouthful, and "blowing" the crops full in an instant three 

 times a day. Lately they have introduced the plan of cram- 

 ming them as they do poultry, with buckwheat meal paste, or 

 gruel, administered through a flexible tube. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



EASTERN TOY PIGEONS. 



AFTER taking from the large variety of Toy pigeons those which 

 have attained special classes, as in the last chapter, the only 

 feasible way of further dividing the remainder seems to be to 

 take together, first, those which appear to be of Eastern origin, 

 and then to group the remainder, most of which come from 

 Germany. In regard to breeding, little can be said for want 

 of any general experience. The amateur must be guided by his 

 own judgment in pairing together the best colour and markings. 



