The Breeds of Pigeons. 169 



In the selection of stock for breeding, good looks 

 and such points as colour and marking have no place 

 in the thoughts of a Working Homer fancier. Pedi- 

 gree is the great thing which is studied, and as much 

 as £so has been paid for birds from a good strain, 

 and which have proved themselves also to be good 

 fliers. vStock birds bred from noted birds have often 

 been sold at £s to ;£io each. Apart from pedigree, 

 the points valued, are boldness of eye, width of skull, 

 with prominent frontal indicating brain power, 

 strong muscular shoulders, stoutness of quill, width 

 and strength of the web of the flights, so that the 

 flights overlapping or covering each other well, the 

 birds are able to oSer resistance to the air in the 

 same manner that the blade of an oar offers resistance 

 to the water. The chest should be deep, so as to 

 afford plenty of room for the lungs to play. Width 

 of chest is not greatly to be desired, that is, abnor- 

 .mal width, because a wide chested bird offers more 

 resistance to the wind ; a Racing Homer needs a 

 chest deep like unto that of the greyhound. The tail 

 should be of moderate length, strong and closely 

 packed ; a loose, slack tail is a hindrance to a bird 

 when flying, and one that is too short does not give 

 the bird that power to rest in the air which a well 

 proportioned and stoutl}' made tail gives. Further, 

 the tail acts as a rudder to the bird during flight, and 

 thus will be seen at once the necessit3'- for its being 

 well and proportionately built. 



THE SCAND.VROON. 



The Scandaroon is not very largely bred in this 

 country. In Germany it has a host of admirers. It 

 is the only one of the long-faced wattled Pigeons 

 bred in England which has not a straight face. Its 

 long arched beak and face, which is one of its 

 stroiigest points, is looked upon by many as being 

 a malformation, and one has to be educated up to a 

 certain standard ere it is possible to appreciate the 

 points which go to make up a good exhibition speci- 

 men of the variety. One great charm the Scandaroon 

 possesses, and that is its marvellous depth, richness, 



