218 PIGEONS ANT> AIJ. ABOUT TTIEJt. 



THE SHOW HOMER. 



THE Show Homer is not a bird that would attract mucli 

 attention in the show room, and by this I mean that it 

 has not the variegated plumage that would cavise the 

 masses to stop and look at it. Yet it has its jioints, and they 

 are as hard to breed to perfection, as are the points of other 

 birds. 



The show Homer is another of the birds that has sjirung 

 into sudden jiopularity, and this asserticju holds tiue on 

 either side of the big pond. 



The primary points show at an early age, and the breeder 

 does not have to halt between hope and fear and wonder 

 " how the birds will turn out. " Just as soon as the young- 

 ster is through moult it is ready to show, and in fact it looks 

 about as well then, as when fully matured. 



There are two great points in the show Homer, and they 

 are simply head and body. The head is a beautiful curve 

 from the tip of the beak to the back of the skull. There is 

 no gap between the beak wattle and the skull, but it Alls 

 right up in one unbroken curve. The eye cere is small and 

 line, and dark. The color of the eye most sought for is a 

 pearl or flesh white. The beak is medium in length and 

 thickness and seems to ht close to a compact head. The 

 wattle is not huge, but clo^e iitting and must come up just 

 enough to make that perfect curve that we see in so many 

 wood cuts and on so tew birds. The chest of the bird is full 

 and strong and stands well out, and the shoulders are also 

 well out and strong Itioking, though there must be a close- 

 ness of feather all over. The very aiijiearanoe of the body 

 which is short and lliiek set, gives the idea of hidden 

 strength. 



