940 The Zoologist— October, 18C7. 



overpowers other colours existing in the bird to which it is matched." — - 

 p. 63. 



We have a chapter especially devoted to pouters, and are taught 

 with evident earnestness how these extraordinary birds ought to be 

 managed : how often have I gazed on these strutting deformities, and 

 amused myself with speculating whether it was more probable they 

 would rise up like balloons or topple over on their exaggerated 

 stomachs ! 



* We now have to consider the arrangements most desirable for the 

 accommodation of a stud of pouters. The size and peculiar habits of 

 these birds render necessary a very considerable modification of the 

 arrangements that are usually made for the other varieties of domestic 

 pigeons. Their height necessitates pens of much greater altitude, their 

 length of feather requires a large increase of size in their nesting-places 

 and cages, and the desirability of getting them into show renders it 

 almost imperative for the pouter fancier to have such an arrangement 

 of his loft as will admit of his penning the whole of his birds separately 

 during the winter months, that is from immediately after the moulting 

 season until they are matched up anew in the spring. First-class 

 pouters cannot be advantageously kept, either in dovecotes, pigeon- 

 houses or lofts, such as may be devoted without any inconvenience to 

 many of the other varieties ; and except in country districts where 

 they are secure from molestation, they cannot be safely flown at large, 

 as they are so tame that they may be frequently taken up in the hand, 

 and when they are strutting about with inflated crops they offer them- 

 selves as easy victims to predatory cats. Hence, in towns, pouters 

 are always kept in rooms or enclosed aviaries, and these are fitted up 

 with pens for the nesting and confinement of the birds." — p. 64. 



It seems that a Mr. Samuel Bult rules or has ruled supreme in the 

 management of pouters, and that Mr. Tegetmeier has enjoyed the 

 advantage of visiting his establishment, an advantage which he fully 

 appreciates and gracefully acknowledges. 



" Those fanciers who like ourselves have had the privilege of seeing 

 this celebrated stud at home, cannot fail to have been struck with the 

 admirable manner in which the birds were cared for. A visitor was 

 never allowed to see them before the houses had been thoroughly 

 cleaned out for the day, the floors freshly swept and gravelled and the 

 pens strewed with sawdust. If the visit was early in the day, a glass 



