45 



sorts of Pigeons : I measured one the other day, whose length 

 from the point of the beak to the extremity of the tail was fifteen 

 inches ; this, though not one of the largest, weighed near twenty ounces. 

 Their flesh is naturally firm, and their feathers close, when they stand 

 erect upon their legs, their necks being usually long, there appears in them 

 a wonderful symmetry of shape beyond other Pigeons, which are generally 

 crowded on heaps. 



125. — The upper chap of the bill is half covered from the head, with a 

 naked, white, tuberous, furfuraceous flesh, which projects or hangs over 

 both its sides on the upper part nearest the head, and ends in a point 

 about the middle of the bill : this is called the wattle, and is sometimes 

 joined by two small excrescences of the same kind on each side of the 

 under chap. 



126. — This flesh is in some carriers more inclinable to a blackish colour, 

 which is generally the more valued. 



127. — The eyes, whose iris, or circle round the black pupil, is generally 

 of the colour of a reddish gravel5(*) are equally surrounded with the same 

 sort of furfuraceous matter, for about the breadth of a shilling ; this is 

 generally thin when it spreads wide, and is most valued, yet when the flesh 

 round the eye is thick and broad it shows the carriers to be of a good blood 

 that will breed very stout ones. 



128. — This bird is often esteemed, by the gentlemen of the Fancy, as 

 the King of Pigeons, on account of its beauty and great sagacity ; for 

 which reason Mr. Hickman, a distiller in Bishopsgate-street (not of the 

 family of the lying Hickmans) when living, always kept a silver hatchet 



point of the beak to the extremity of the tail, neither can it stand too high, provided it 

 is done with length of neck instead of length of legs, with a short neck ; I do not know 

 that it is desirable to have such a heavy bird, it looks runtish ; this much I do know, 

 it is desirable it should have a wonderful degree of symmetry, shape, carriage or style. I 

 once saw a Carrier, at one of the acknowledged best Carrier Fanciers we have, he 

 pointed it out to me, and said, with age it would make one of the most extraordinary 

 Carriers that ever was seen. Sometime after, seeing an excellent Carrier Fancier, I 



asked him if he had seen Mr. 's promising young Carrier, he said he had, that it 



was not a Carrier, but a goose. I think I have seen better Carriers " Multum in Parvo," 

 with all their beautiful properties conspicuously showing, than in the heavy large birds, 

 that have the appearance of courseness. It is laughable at times to hear one Fancier, 

 comparatively speaking, cut off the nose of a brother Fancier. This may arise from 

 having been contradicted before, and biding his time, the first opportunity to pay with 

 interest after a time. A Fancier must have a firm determined opinion of his own (I 

 had nearly said right or wrong), otherwise I think he never will be a Fancier if tossed 

 about by every wind or tide of pretended consequential Fanciers. I know some 

 Fanciers that have asserted things, so stick to it, sooner than eat their own words, would 

 die first, for in course of time Fanciers forget them ; I would as soon attempt to bag a 

 bull, that is, put my hand down its throat, catch hold of its tail, and turn him inside 

 out, as to attempt to convince some. They are wrong after asserting a thing, at the 

 same time a Fancier must have a firm opinion of his own. 



♦ 127. (Mayoe, p. 86.)—" But should be a fiery red." (Girtin, p. 61.)—" Of a red 

 brick-dust color." 



127. (Eaton.) — Mayor is decidedly right as to the iris of the eye, the more fiery red 

 infinitely the better, and it is the opinion of the best Carrier Fanciers of the present 

 day. 



