PKiEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 97 



(iylit u.iiriage, a long slender -waist, witli wings tightly til- 

 ting. ;ui(l clean and tapering at the points, and not loose and 

 cooked out. If I could put the desideratum in Pouters, into 

 one word, I would use the word "symmetry" for that covers 

 it. 



I would point to all breeders that the proper bird consists 

 ot tajjering lines, with no unsightly bre.iks, from skull to end 

 of tail feather. 



As to legs. No longer do we have the insane idea that 

 great boots area necessity. Ithinktliey detract from the 

 looks of the bird, and interfere with the lines of harmony. 



Mere length of 1 mb does not count. A long leg may be 

 Set on badly, or it may lack the graceful bend. A shorter 

 leg set on right, knees close, with stocking boots, is far 

 nearer the ideal. 



The globes of the present day, are neariug perfection with 

 each generation. The great, coarse, rough, loosely hanging 

 globe has been relegated to the past, and it is now shapely 

 and conforms to the appearance of the rest of the bird. What 

 is far more important, the bird cairies his globe in front, 

 and not partially on the back of his neck, thus spoiling his 

 balance. 



As to color, the day when a badly built bird, the markings 

 of which were perfect, could win, is past. The best fanciers 

 only care for a color distinctive enough to show in which 

 chiss the bird should be entered, and that done, they trust to 

 liis contour and his training. It is hard to say which color 

 is the most popular. As stated, color is the last thing now. 



In impressing the beauty of the hollow back I quote 

 George ITre, who is surely a standard autliorit}-. lie says 

 "the hollow back is a sure sign of good breeding, and a bird 

 possessing this is sure to have other good points. It is a 



