34 THE PIGEON STANDARD. 



THK SADDLEBACK FANTAIL. 



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



Beak. — Thiu, flesh color and of medium length, the upper 

 mandible slightly curved at the tip. 



Beak Wattle.— Small and fine in texture. 



Eye. — Dark Hazel or Bull, with very fine flesh-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, i-ound like a ball. 



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

 back overlapping each other and extending well up 

 the tail feathers. 



TaU. — 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. — The bird should stand on tip-toes and walk in a 

 jaunty manner. Head, thrown back in a graceful 

 manner resting closely on the cushion ; chest, up- 

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

 fairly low and closely braced; flights, just clearing 

 the lowest tail feathers and almost meeting at the 

 tips; tail, carried well uj) not being allowed to drop 

 or incline forward ; .legs, well apart, the hooks 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. 



Markings. — The wings should be marked evenly, the ten 

 outside feathers being white, the rest, including the 

 covert or scapular feathers, to be colored; the body, 

 excepting the back, to be white, in the barred varie- 

 ties the wing bars to be clear and distinct. 

 Color. — To be clear and rich throughout, with tight hard- 

 filtiiig plumage. 



