THE PIGEON BOOK 91 



with the Pouter has produced it. The Norwich Cropper 

 is a very wiry bird on the wing — in fact, never still, and 

 I have known birds of the old strains to perform re- 

 markable journeys, showing that the homing instinct in 

 the bird is highly developed. Eaton describes the Nor- 

 wich Cropper as the " pouting Horseman or English 

 Pirate in miniature." The Cropper is a hardier bird 

 than the Pouter, not so subject to sour crop, and an easy 

 rearer and fine breeder. Pouters, Croppers, and Pigmies 

 have been used in recent years so much one to blend with 

 the other that there is little in the points of one that is 

 not to be found in the other, the mere distinction being 

 that of colour in the Croppers. In Croppers I have 

 noticed many strains of the Strawberry colour and Duns, 

 which are not so common in Pouters. 



The Pigmy Pouter. 



Just as there are Bantams in the poultry world, so is 

 the Pigmy the Bantam Pouter. Such a sweet little variety 

 is the Pigmy Pouter that I know of no bird that I would 

 recommend the lady fancier to take up more than this. 

 The Pigmy is the miniature Pouter in very shape and 

 form. I think the Pigmy somewhat more delicate than 

 the Norwich Cropper, but the bird is more gentle. There 

 is nothing prettier, to my thinking, than the pretty little 

 Pigmy, mounted on its block in the show pen, joyfully 

 playing up to passers-by. The same colours predominate 

 as in the Pouters. Clean, straight limbs are very essen- 

 tial, well feathered, and good markings. I once spent a 

 day with Major Hallett and his Pigmies, and a very, 

 very enjoyable day it was. The Pigmy is a kind, elegant 

 little pigeon, and one of the most lovable varieties in the 

 pigeon world. 



