148 Fancy Pigeons, 



ing the form that is apparently regarded by Mr. Ludlow and tha Bir- 

 mingham fanciers as that of a Belgian voyagenr. 



"The exhibition of the right sort of birds is very much promoted by 

 their liberation after being judged in the pens, the prizes being withheld 

 if the birds are not returned at a given time. It is true some of the birds 

 may live close to the show, and have their flying powers very slightly 

 tested, but really good flyers are certain to be sent for the selection of the 

 judge, and the shortfaced show birds will be kept at home. 



"The liberation clause should always be qualified with the stipulation 

 ' weather permitting,' for it would be a eerious matter if, during the worst 

 flying months of the year, a flight of really good birds should be liberated 

 in a fog or in hazy weather when they could not see their way home. 

 For, in spite of all the nonsense written about flj^ng by instinct, all 

 practical men know that a bird flies by sight. I have lost some of the 

 best birds I ever possessed from trying to fly them across London on 

 a foggy day." 



CHAPTER LVI. 



THE SHORT-FACED ANTWERP PIGEON. 



This pigeon has been produced principally from the smerle of Liege, 

 one of the varieties from which the Belgian voyageur descends, as 

 mentioned in my last chapter. According to Fulton, who ought to 

 know, some breeders have made use of the barb in breeding it. Its 

 chief properties lie in its head, which must be capacious, and present in 

 profile an unbroken curve from the nape to the point of the beak. The 

 beak itself ought to be thick and short, the under mandible approaching 

 the upper in consistency as much as possible, and fitting close to it, or, 

 as fanciers say, boxed. Any gullet is objectionable, and detracts from 

 the appearance and value of this variety m the opinion of its admirers. 

 Viewed in front, the head ought also to be round from eye to eye. The 

 irides should be orange or blood red in colour, light or pearl eyes being 

 faulty. The eyes must be prominent or bolting, and be surrounded with 



