216 PROFITABLE PIGEON BREEDING 



The head of the Carrier is long and narrow measuring about 

 2% inches from the tip of the bealv to the baclv of the skull. 

 The beak likewise is long but stout. At the junction of the head 

 and beak we find a round wattle which should be as large as 

 possible. There is scarcely any distinguishing line bewteen the 

 parts of the wattle on upper and lower mandible when they are 

 closed. This wattle is of a powdery white color. Around the 

 eye we see an eye cere that is wide and firm in texture, not as 

 fine as in other breeds but heavier so to speak. Here we note 

 something a little unusual in pigeons namely that the eye cere 

 rises slightly above the crown of the skull. In color we find 

 the iris of the eye to be deep red in all varieties except whites 

 which have "bull" or black eyes. 



The back of the Carrier is straight and slopes from the 

 shoulders to rump. The shoulders are flat and broad and as one 

 looks at this bird he sees muscular power owing to these broad 

 shoulders and protruding wing butts. The keel shows a mode- 

 rate depth while the chest is wide at the front but from a side 

 view it does not present a protruding curve. The neck is 

 moderately long and slender and arches nicely under the beak 

 to throat. 



In feather tliis bird has long flights which are carried well 

 up against the body and which rest on top of the tail. The 

 tail feathers are long, of medium width at the tip and carried 

 clear of the ground. The legs and claws are free from feather- 

 ing. The body feathering is short and fits close making the bird 

 have an appearance of firmness. 



This bird is quite a large one in size, measuring as long as 

 18 to 20 inches from tip of beak to end of tail, while the back 

 at shoulders is quite broad. To carry a body of this size we 

 note stout, strong, legs well set under the bird while the feet 

 are large and claws well spi'ead. 



We find four varieties recognized as standard namely, Blues, 

 Duns, Blacks and Whites. The Blues have wing and tail bar 

 markings of black; the Duns are of one color all over; the blacks 



