184 



THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



appearing too long in face; if the beak be thick enough 

 and blunt at the point, and the length of it from A to e 

 be comjparatvoely short, ■while the nostril, e f, and the space D 

 be comparatively long, the bird will very probably make a good 

 one, provided e b is well filled up in front, and the head be 

 wide across at d d. In fact, with such proportions, a fair 

 length must make up best in the end, as it will make the 

 biggest head. The cheeks below the eyes should also be well 

 filled out. After a certain age the beak generally shrivels and 



Pig. 30. 



Kg. 31. 



becomes thin, thus destroying the grand and massive character 

 of the head. Hence a time comes when the finest bird must 

 yield his place to younger rivals. 



We have already said that this massive convexity being the 

 main property of a good Antweqj head, if the profile in Fig. 25 

 were shortened it would be spoilt. Tliis will be seen on com- 

 paring the foregoing figures with Figs. 30 and 31, which 

 show exactly such a head as many judges used to think was 

 desired by Antwerp fanciers. We have pm-posely chosen one 

 of the best of this type, so as to make the comparison most 

 fairly ; but have seen, years ago, prizes given to far worse. It 

 will be seen at once that this is an Owly head ; and of course 



