THE PIGEON STANDARD. 



THE POUTER. 



Length of Feather. — i. e. the extreme distance when out- 

 stretched — From the point of the beak to the end of 

 the tail, eighteen to nineteen inches being considered 

 the proper length — the maximum figure to be pre- 

 ferred when the leg development is such as to admit 

 of easy, lofty carriage. 



Head. — Small and narrow in proportion to the size of the 

 bird, forming an elongated arch from the base of the 

 beak, measuring about If inches from centre of eye 

 to point of beak. 



Crop. — Should be globular in form, proportionally large and 

 equally distended at all parts ; to rise well up against 

 the point of the beak, projecting piominently in 

 front, and showing but a slight fullness back of the 

 neck. 



Girth. — Slender, the greater the length from the lower part 

 of the crop to the insertion of the thighs the better. 



Back. — Narrow and long-appearing, slightly concave with a 

 grooved line from base of neck towards rump, shoul- 

 ders tucked close to body. 



Breast. — Narrow and convex, showing vei-y little keel. 



Flights.— Should be of sufficient length as to reach nearly to 

 the end of the tail, barely meeting at points directly 

 over and close to the tail, to fold close and narrow. 



Tail Should be sufficiently long, and narrow enough to 



harmonize in the general taper of the bird, round 

 ended and free from tendency to fork at extremity. 



Limbs Generally lengthy, both in thigh and shank, meas- 

 ured from thigh-joint to tip of toe nail, constituting 

 about three-eighths of the length of the bird. In 

 referring to length, it is not necessarily meant the 

 mere measurement by rule, but as well a form and 

 position that both looks long to the eye and at the 

 same time enables the bird when on a level floor to 

 stand tall and upright without being tilted forward 

 by its tail. The thighs should be close together, and 

 start from a position well back on the body, allowing 

 room in front for Ihe much desired long waist, the 

 hock but slightly shown — almost straight, the entire 

 limb well "stripped," showing to the fullest extent 

 what length and form of limb the bird may have. 

 The feet should iuLline slightly outward, and the 

 knees in, toes spread, not doubled under or cramped. 



Leg and Foot Feathering. — The legs should be covered with 

 short, soft feathers, fitting close and forming a com- 

 plete mask for the entire limb, with only enough 

 covering at the hock to hide the knuckles from view, 



