and block, on which he decently chopped off their heads, alledging, that 

 being of the blood royal, they ought not to die after the same manner as 

 the vulgar herd. 



129. — A carrier is generally reckoned to have twelve properties, viz. 



Three in the beak. 

 Three in the wattle. 

 Three in the head. 

 Three in the eye. 

 130. — To begin therefore with the first, the properties of the beak are to 

 be long, strait, and thick. 



131. — As to its length, an inch and a half is reckoned a long beak, 

 though there are very good carriers that are found not to exceed an inch 

 and a quarter. 



132.— The straitness of the beak adds a wonderful beauty to its 

 length, and if otherwise it is said to be hooked-beaked, and is not so much 

 esteemed. 



133. — The thickness of the beak is likewise a very gteat commendation, 



129. (Eaton.) — According to Mr. Mooee, (Paragraph 129,) a Carrier is reckoned to 

 have twelve properties, &c. and all in that small portion of the bird — the Head ; allow- 

 ing no property to test the Carrier by that standard, laid down with regard to the 

 wonderful symmetry and elegance of shape ; although in former times it was called by 

 the Gentlemen of the Fancy ''the King of Pigeons," for its elegance and sagacity. An 

 umpire, unequal to the office he was filling, might award the prize from the general 

 appearance of the bird (its elegance and symmetry of shape) although it was not laid 

 down as one out of the twelve properties to test the Carrier by, and I think we are 

 greatly indebted for the judicious remarks of Mayor. After aU, my brother Fanciers, 

 I will be candid, and inform you, that I do not believe the Carrier to be an original 

 bird, but bred up to the highest possible pitch, by the Fancier, from the Horseman — 

 when at this high pitch or standard then it is called a Carrier, nor is it possible to pre- 

 vent the degeneration by any art whatever, which I shall endeavour to prove when I 

 come to the Horseman. 



131. (Eaton.) — In Mooee's day an inch and a. half was reckoned a long beak, 

 although at this time, there are beaks that would measure one inch and three quarters, 

 and some few two inches ; it is infinitely better to have a beak one inch and a half in a 

 right position, possessing the properties, straight and thick, than have a beak upon 

 which tricks have been played when young and coaxed to the length of two inches, and 

 spindle beaked. The experienced Fanciers are aware how some measure, as I said 

 before. Position, thickness, and straitness of the beak causes the admiration of 

 Fanciers ; if you refer to my set of six coloured portraits, " life size," and examine the 

 Carrier, you will find the beak two inches full, and if measured from the back of the 

 head to the end of the beak, nearly three inches, understanding that in some parts of the 

 country they measiire this way. I once saw three Carriers at a show, if measured 

 round the hook beak (instead of straight) would have measured two and a half inches, 

 awfully hooked beaked and looked anything but what a Carrier's beak should look. 

 When I pointed it out to the party to whom they belonged, the answer I received was, 

 that the horn was allowed to grow to decide a wager, I thought a pretty sort of wager. 

 He put the beak of one of them into his mouth and bit off about three-fourths of an 

 inch, the beak appeared straighter and not so hooked beak. I thought if it had been 

 possible to have worked this two and a half inch beak up as you can putty, and formed 

 a beak as it ought to be that MooRE states in Paragraphs 130, 131, 132, and 133 ; 

 simply think of this Gentlemen Carrier Fanciers, who are so rampant for long beaks, 



183. (GiRTiN, p. 63,) — Beak a black color. 



