THE PIGEON STANDARD. 35 



THE ENQLISH CARRIER. 



Head. — Long and narrow, running on as straight a level as 

 possible from the base of the wattle to the back of 

 the skull, yet displaying the slightest indentation in 

 Its centre in its longitudinal extension. (1) Length 

 — From the tip of the beak to the back of the skull, 

 2J inches at least. (2) Width — From inside fold of 

 eye-cere to eye-cere i inch — being equal in measure- 

 ment at front and back of cere. 



Beak. — Long and stout in both mandibles, shooting straight 

 away from their juncture up the gape and propor- 

 tionately thick to the very tip, the mandibles closing 

 tightly. Color, of a light fleshy hue with dark lon- 

 gitudinal streaks in blacks and blues, the streaks 

 being light horn color in duns ; in whites, of a pale 

 fleshy color, devoid of any streaking. Measure- 

 ments of face and beak. If inch in hens and not less 

 than 2 inches in cocks, from the pupil of the eye to 

 the tip of the beak. 



Wattle. — Kather round than oval in shape. Size, as large 

 as possible, even in surface i-ooring, and proportion- 

 ately balanced from side to side ; that on the under 

 mandible scarcely showing any separation from that 

 on the upper one when they are closed; the upper 

 section lilted slightly forward from the front of the 

 skull, the lower section very gradually bulging away 

 from the jaw. The circumference of the wattle 

 should be greatest at its centre, from whence it 

 should gradually and imperceptibly blend with the 

 beak at its inner extremity. The color of a wattle 

 should be a powdery white tint. 



Eyes. — Deep red in iris, except whites, which should be 

 black or "bull-eyed." 



Eye-Cere. — Circular and wide, evenly radiating at an equal 

 distance from the eye. Fine, well laced, but firm in 

 texture, rising slightly above the level of the head 

 and quite parallel in structure both at the front and 

 back of the skull. The color of a pale, leather-like 

 tinge, displaying but little of the powdery tint visi- 

 ble on the wattle. The dimensions should be pro- 

 portionate to sex and age ; in adult cocks, as wide 

 and circular as a florin; in adult hens a degree less; 

 in young birds not less than a shilling, increasing 

 with age. 



