40 THE PIGEON BOOK 



grown in its stead, but I do not recommend their removal 

 owing to the risk entailed. 



If upon the renewal of a flight or tail feather it is 

 found to be split in the centre, this is a deformed feather, 

 arising through an injury to the feather follicle, and I 

 have seldom known a good feather to grow in its stead. 

 Generally speaking, it may be taken for granted that when 

 once a deformed feather grows it will always grow. 



The natural moult of the tail is rather curious. There 

 are twelve tail feathers in most varieties of pigeons, but 

 some have more, this being a special feature of the 

 variety. 



The tail feathers are called rectrices, and consist of six 

 on each side. 



I have possessed birds with fourteen and sixteen tail 

 feathers. It is these " sports " that have led to the pro- 

 duction of different varieties, as Darwin points out. 



The moult of the tail usually begins when the sixth or 

 seventh primary has fallen, and takes place in like manner 

 as the flights. 



The first two tail feathers to fall are those immediately 

 next to the medians, or two feathers in the middle of the 

 tail. When these have reached three-fourths of their 

 length the medians, or two middle feathers, are thrown. 

 After these the third and fourth feathers fall on each 

 side, counting from the centre. The two outside tail 

 feathers fall after the fourth, and the fifth, or next 

 feather to the outside, falls last. 



A gradual steady moult and regrowth of the feathers 

 is the best possible sign of health, and does not drain 

 a bird's strength so much as irregular, broken moults, 

 with bare patches of feathers missing at a time. 



As breeding will retard the moult, so will its cessation, 

 when once it has started, hasten it. Successful exhibitors 



