320 Fancy Pigeons. 



pecnliarily short round form, and bont back neck. Its length is 32.V 

 centimetres (13in.), the length of its leg 14 centimetres (51in.), the 

 weight of the body up to 3S3}gTm." (13jOZ.). 



" The head is smooth, the nape very powerful, the neck bent back as 

 with the fantail, even when not blowing, and this is the first characteristic 

 mark of the balloon cropper. The breast is correspondingly protruding 

 and broad. The crop has, when inflated, a diameter of 12i-15 

 centimetres " (5in. to 6in.). "The flights do not reach the end of the 

 tail, and are somewhat crossed. The leg is shortly feathered, and the 

 colour and markings vary. It stands with stiff legs and rather low, 

 and walks "with dignity, nodding very much. In flying, it holds its 

 head and crop upright, which lends to the pigeon the appearance of a 

 balloon, hence its name. All other pigeons stretch their necks out hori- 

 zontally when flying, and this deviation from the rule is its second 

 characteristic mark. It propagates badly. In Holland much care is 

 spent on its production, in Germany less, as, on the whole, this pigeon 

 does not make a very flne impression. 



