210 riGEONS AND ALL ABOI-i' TIIEM. 



THE DRAGOON. 



THE Dragoon is not only a variety of its own, but it is 

 one of the most handsome and most striking i)igeous 

 that lives. It is chiimed tliat it is a direct descendant 

 of the Horseman, a bird of which we now never liear. 



In England there are two types, the sturdy compact bird 

 that we now accept as the pro])er one, and a narrow sleuder- 

 ly built bird, that had the proper head and beak, Ijut lacked 

 the strong and vigorous make-up of the now tyijical Dra 

 goon. 



The most pronounced feature al)out the Dragoon is its 

 skull, which comes up round, full and broad, and narrows 

 quickly to the beak. 



It is more of a wedge-shape, than any other, and the watts 

 which fits close to the beak, and is also wedge-shajied, adds 

 to ibis general contour. The rise from the beak tip is also 

 regular, and this gives a sort of "low forehead'' appearance, 

 which must be seen to he understood. 



It is now admitted that the proper skull must be about 

 twice as broad at tlie back, as at the frontal, where the wat- 

 tle begins. There has been much discussion as to length of 

 beak, but I believe the best authorities place it at about one 

 and a half inches from tip to front edge of the eye. 



The wattle is a great feature in the Dragoon, and should 

 rise gradually from where it begins on the beak, to the be- 

 ginning of the frontal bone, but it should not extend much 

 over the side of the beak, for this would detract from its even 

 appearance. Close to the skull it comes up even and hard, 

 as if firmly glued to it, and does not stand out as does the 

 Carrier's. 



The beak should be as thick as possible, with no wattle on 

 the lower mandible. 



