THE PIGEON STANDARD. 33 



THE SILVER FANTAIL. 



Head. — Small fine and snakey, free from peak or shell. 



Beak. — Thin, black and of medium length, the upper 

 mandible slightly curved at the tip. 



Beak Wattle.— Small and fine in texture. 



Eye. — Pearl, with very fine drab-colored cere. 



Neck. — Thin, nicely curved and tapering well off as it ap- 

 proaches the head. 



Length of Neck. — Corresponding with length of back, so as 

 to enable the head to rest closely at the base of the 

 cushion. 



Body<. — Shape, small and round ; back, slightly hollowed in 

 centre; length of back, in proportion to length of 

 neck, enabling the head to i-est on the cushion with 

 ease; rump, of sufficient size and strength to balance 

 the tail evenly; chest, round like a ball. 



Cushion. — Full and massive, the feathers of the front and 

 back overlapping each other and extending well up 

 the tail feathers. 



TaiU — Slightly concave and circular, closely filled with long 

 broad evenly set feathers, well overlapping each 

 other. 



Legs. — Moderately short, not stilty, and free from feathers 

 below the hocks. 



Feet.— Small, fine and neat. 



Color of Legs and Feet.— Bright red. 



Carriage. — 'Tlie bird should stand on tip-toes and walk in a 

 jaunty manner. Head, thrown back in a graceful 

 mJiAuer resting closely on the cushion; chest, up- 

 right in a straight line with the legs; wings, set on 

 fainylow and closely braced; flights, just clearing 

 the lowest tail feathers and almost meeting at the 

 tips; tail, carried well up not being allowed to drop 

 or incline forward; legs, well apart, the hocks being 

 forced forward by the action of the body. 



Motion.— Convulsive jerking or twitching of the neck and 

 apparent upheaving of the chest, the head seeming 

 to bounce gently up and down on the cushion, with 

 constant tremulous quivering of the body. 



Color Asoftevenshadeof a very light silvery grey tint, 



with no tendency to a creamy color. The feathers 

 upon the neck and throat should be covered with 

 an iridescent metallic sheen. The wing and tail bars 

 should be black and well defined. Tlie tail feathers 

 should be edged all round with the same tint as the 

 body color. 



Plumage— Hard and tight fitting. 



