THE PIGEOlSr STANDARD, 29 



THE BLACK FANTAIL. 



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



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

 mandible slightly curved at the tip. 



Beak Wattle. — Small and fine in texture. 



Eye. — Pearl or Oi'ange, with very fine dark-colored cere. 



Neck. — Thin, niqely curved and tapering well oft' as it ap- 

 proaches the head. 



Length of Neck. — Corresjjonding 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 rest on the cu.shion 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. 



Tail. — Slightly concave and circular, closely filled wtth 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 up not being allowed to drop 

 pr 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.— Jet black throughout, free from rustiness or a cheq- 

 uery appearance, and covered with a rich beetle green 

 lustre. 



Plumage — Hard and tight fitting. 



