AGE AND SEX OF PIGEONS 



59 



A Homer pigeon at six months cannot be distin- 

 guished from one six years old. At six months the 

 birds are of mature size, as shown in Fig. 21, while 

 those at six years, show no sign of increasing age, as 

 seen in Fig. 22. With other varieties, notably Ant- 

 werps. Carriers and Dragoons, the size of the wattles, 

 the warty growth about the bill, and the cere, the same 

 growth about the eyes, indicate age. But in the 

 Homers there is often no perceptible difference in the 

 growth of either cere or wattle in the ages mentioned. 



FIG. 22 — HOMERS SIX YEARS OLD. 



In this respect again, the buyer is at the mercy of the 

 seller. If the latter is not honest and does not know 

 the age of his birds, the buyer stands a good chance of 

 making a. poor bargain. 



