28 THE PIGEON STANDARD. 



THB BLUE FANTAIL. 



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

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

 mandible slightly curved at the tip. 



Beak Wattle.— Small and line in texture. 



Eye. — Pearl or Orange, with very fine dark-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 rest on the cushion with 

 ease; rump, of sufficient size and strength to balance 

 the tall 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. 



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 up not being allowed to drop 

 or incline forwai-d; 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.— Clear sound lavender blue. Free from sootiness or 

 bronzing, and with no inclination to run light on the 

 rump. The feathers upon the neck and throat 

 should be covered with an iredescent metallic sheen. 

 The wing and tail bars should be black and well 

 defined. The tail feathers should be edged all 

 around with the same tint as the body color. 



Plumage— Hard aid tight fitting. 



