64 



two bars or streaks of black Across the lower part of both wings ; but if 

 these happen to be[of a brown colour, he is said to be kite-barred, which is 

 not so valuable. 



171. — 4. The shoulder or pinion of the wing ought to be mottled with 

 white, lying round in the shape of a rose ; this is called a rose-pinion, 

 and is reckoned the best, though but very few arise to be compleat in this 

 property ; but if the pinion runs with a large patch of white to the outer 

 edge of the wing, he is said to be lawn-sleeved. (*) 



172. — 5. His thighs ought to be clean white, though sometimes the 

 joints of the knees will be edged round with another colour, but let it fall 

 here, or on any other part of the thigh, he is foul thighed. (f) 



173. — 6. The nine flight feathers of the wing ought to be white, other- 

 wise he is said to be foul flighted, and if only the external feather of 

 the wing be of the colour of the body, it is called sword flighted or 

 s worded. (J) 



was an oversight, no doubt, and pei-plexed many a young Edncier, as it did me a few 

 years ago. Looking at Pouters one night with tails, same as head, neck, and back, and 

 another time at yellows and reds with white tails : time and experience improved my eye 

 and matured my judgment. 



' * 171. (GlETlN, p. 50.) — The reader- is desired to take notice that lawn-sleeved, 

 kite-barred, &c., and such like terms, which frequently occur in describing these birds, 

 are Fancy terms, and made use of by Gentlemen of the Fancy only. 



t 172. (GiRTiN, p. 51.) — Their legs are covered with white, soft, downy feathers. 1 



+ 173. (Eaton.) — I know a Gentleman in the Fancy, one of the best tempered 

 men that I ever knew ; it would take a great deal to put his pipe out ; if in society, 

 speaking of the properties of the English Pouter as they ought to be, — First, length 

 of leg ; second, girt ; third, length of body ; fourth, crop ; fifth and last, beauty in 

 feather ; if he heard a party finding fault with an English Pouter, or Pouters, possessing 

 the four first properties in an eminent degree ; it was more than flesh and blood could 

 stand, and the only thing I ever saw that ruffled his temper ; he enjoyed his opinion of 

 the man — I cannot call him a Fancier. Feather will be the last property you have to 

 bother yourself with, considering what you have to encounter in the first four proper- 

 ties. There are people in the world that say " a good horse cannot be a bad colour," 

 which equally applies to the English Pouter ; for instance, if it was possible for you, 

 at your next show, to take a bird I have been describing, possessing the first four pro- 

 perties out of the five in an eminent degree, although the most despicable colour in the 

 feather (mealy), you might inform me how much handsomer it would have been if it 

 had been a yellow-pied. You may keep your information to yourself, I already know 

 it ; produce and show the mealy bird I have described : you will find you are ofiered 

 many guineas for it. 



(Mayoe, p, 63.) — ^The above and many other inconveniences, too tedious to mention, 

 attending the Pouter, and no trouble at all (comparatively 'speaking) attending the 

 other, easily accounts for the preference given to the Almond Tumbler. 



(Mayoe, p. 97.) — "When the Pouters are designed to be shown, they should be 

 previously prepared for that purpose, by keeping them from food five or six hours be- 

 fore the time of showiug them, otherwise they cannot so conveniently swell or get 

 their crop up properly, to appear to advantage ; and particular care must be afterwards 

 taken to prevent the dangerous and disagreeable inconvenience of gorging them- 

 selves, for at that time they are most apt to do it, from having been kept so long 

 empty. 



(Mayoe, p. 97.) — These Pigeons appear very noble on the outside of a house, but the 

 better sort are never suffered to fly. 



