142 THE PIGEON BOOK 



extraordinary size, as it is an enormous giant Blue Rock 

 both in shape, style, and head, with an immense length 

 of feather. In fact, I have seen Runts almost as large 

 as fowls. The birds are very strong and pugnacious, and 

 therefore must be kept separate from other pigeons if a 

 fancier keeps more than one variety. The chief point in 

 connection with the bird in the show pen is the size, and 

 in order to obtain this with anything like perfection single 

 young ones should be reared. Many varieties have been 

 credited with Runt crosses, but I am not so sure that the 

 Runt has been used as frequently as stated. I remember 

 seeing some years ago some very powerful Antwerps almost 

 as big as Runts, and it was surprising the enormous size 

 to which Wegge, a Belgian fancier, bred his racing pigeons 

 in Belgium — a little larger and they would have been 

 almost typical Runts — but there was certainly no Runt 

 cross used, and I have never heard of the Runt being used 

 for crossing with the racer. 



The Swallow. 



In Belgium and France this pigeon is known as the 

 Hirondelle. 



It is a very pretty variety, the chief features of which 

 are colour and markings. The ground-colour, back and 

 breast, must be white, while the crown of the head, wings, 

 and flights are coloured. The birds breed fairly true to 

 colour, but, like all muff-footed varieties, want to live 

 in the country, where the foot -feathering can be kept clean 

 naturally, for there is nothing so unsightly as matter or 

 dirty feathers round the feet and legs. The thighs must 

 be clean and white, whilst the lower parts must match 

 the wing-colour. The beak is of the spindle shape of the 

 common pigeon. The eye is hazel. There are plain- 



