The Pigmy Pouter. 303 



rightly placed in the body, can afford to measure lO-Jin. in feather, if such 

 length is made up in a certain way, as described, I at once saw that 

 Captain Hill's pigmy was quite out of this proportion. But even taking 

 7in. limbs to 18f in. in feather, this pigmy, being Sfin, in limbs, ought to 

 measure 15in. in feather, if formed on the same lines. I pointed this 

 out to Captain Hill, and had the following reply : " In order to satisfy 

 you and myself, I have re-measured my little gem, and find length of 

 feather 13iin. fall, or at the outside ^ii- more, limb 5fin. These are 

 the same measurements as were taken by Fulton and a crowd of admirers 

 at the Palace, when the bird was first shown there (not for competition) 

 in November, 1879. It appeared there again two months afterwards at 

 the Peristeronic show. Although the above measurements appear out of 

 proportion to those you quote, and are so according to the old rule for 

 the pouter, still no one who has seen this little bird has made the remark 

 that it was not symmetrical ; on the contrary, either on or oil the block 

 it is considered graceful in form, and walks well, without rumping or 

 jumping. In my opinion, a slender pouter with Tin. limbs, well formed 

 and placed, is much more pleasing to the eye, if under 19in., than one 

 over that length ; but such birds are rare. The limbs of this pigmy are 

 not spindly, but well set and stockinged, with the proper curves, not too 

 straight, neither bent, and with perfectly spread toe-feathering. Markings 

 very perfect, good-sized bib, crop and both pinions correct, no approach 

 to bishoping, and a true line at belt ; but, Kke the majority of its larger 

 brethren of same colour, it has a few foul feathers at thigh joints. 

 Flights ample and well carried ; colour a deep black ; dark orange eye ; 

 pout a good size and well shaped; but, as you intend making mention of 

 it, you ought to know what was a great surprise to me and to others, 

 viz., the discovery, when it was about nine months old, that it had deceived 

 us in its sex, as it turned out to be a hen after being matched up to 

 another hen. It is again keeping close company with a large pouter hen. 

 I have known other instances of a similar kind, but never one whose 

 .action, voice, and coo were so like to a cock. 



" I have given you all these particulars, as I find I cannot bring my 

 mind to risk the journey to and fro of my wee pet, much as I would like 

 you to see it at the present time. The mealy-chequer is the only new 

 blood introduced into my strain, with the exception of a yellow Austrian 

 hen, whose young have never lived. The mealy is most unlike the 



