84 THE PEACTICAL PIGEON KEF^EK. 



harder wattle, well arched from the eye behind and full in front, 

 there is a great probability of getting good progeny from it. 

 And if a bird has both good size and shape of wattle, a com- 

 paratively short face need not hinder its being of the greatest 

 value in the loft. For more detailed information on matching 

 different types of Carrier heads, illustrated with diagrams of 

 various kiads of wattles, we must refer to the " Book of 

 Pigeons," by Mr. R Fulton, where the subject is gone into 

 with great minuteness, and where much other practical infor- 

 mation on Carrier breeding can be obtained. 



In selecting the young birds which are to be retained, the 

 great poiut is to choose those which are well filled up iu the 

 middle and front of the wattle, and arch well away from the 

 eye behind. Such are very unlikely to become really bad in 

 shape ; whereas any wattles which rise up high at the extreme 

 back when young, or appear at all straight in their " lines " 

 towards the beak, are almost sure to become more and more 

 hollow with age. The eye will speak for itself when the strain 

 is known. For exhibiting the first season, the soft-wattled 

 strains, bred in confinement, are naturally the most successful ; 

 and such birds must be hatched early in the year, to give, them 

 time for making up before showing. There is, of course, great 

 risk in this, and many such early-hatched young birds are lost; 

 many good hens are also pumped out and rendered prematurely 

 ban-en by such early breeding ; but both are " risks and losses 

 that must be encountered if the object is to be attained. It 

 will be particularly desirable to provide purposely young, 

 vigorous, healthy hens, which have been flown when young, 

 for sujoh early breeding. 



Carriers always flown will feed their young very well ; but 

 the majority faU after a week or so, and a staff of strong feeders 

 is therefore very important. For this purpose nothing will 

 surpass coarse-beaked Dragooias or long-faced Antwerps ; but 

 jiny hardy pigeon with a large beak will answer the purpose. 



