174 Pigeons and Ai,i, About Them. 



utilit}' bird, the Runt cannot be beaten, and anj'one 

 fond O'f Pigeon-pie might make Runts pay b3' breed- 

 ing only for the table. 



THE POUTER. 



This Pigeon has been held in high esteem by fan- 

 ciers in all ages as one of the leading or classic 

 varieties, and by reason of its grace and gentleness 

 has been given the style and title — the Queen of 

 Pigeons. I am not going back to delve from the 

 chronicles of antiquity the details of its origin; in 

 this practical age such is not needed. At one time 

 I^ondon was a big centre of Pouter breeding, but for 

 some years now Scotland has taken the lead, al- 

 though, strange to say, I/ondon and the 'home coun- 

 ties are very strong in Pigmy Pouters. Pouters, al- 

 though large birds, do well in cojifined or limited 

 accommodation, pro\'idcd they are kept scrupulously 

 clean . 



Pouters are very tame and tractable, and take most 

 readily to the training and petting which is needed 

 to bring out the points of style and carriage, which 

 play so great a part in the judges' decisions. The 

 first step in training a Pouter is to tame it, get it 

 accustomed to being in a pen, and, if possible, in a 

 place where it can often be seen and talked to. Many 

 fanciers take their Pouters into the house so that 

 they may become used to peoi)le moving about near 

 them. When the birds are penned they must be 

 talked to, stroked with the judging-stick, have the 

 fingers snapped at them, and "croowed and cooed'' 

 to. These things will all excite the birds and make 

 them strut and stalk about their cages in a dainty 

 yet dignified style, the while blowing out their crops 

 in the approved manner. 



Some birds respond most readily, and these make 

 the best birds for exhibition. A merry bird pleases 

 a judge, a sulky one annoys him, and it is waste of 

 time and money to exhibit birds which arc inclined 

 to sulk, no matter how good thev mav be structur- 

 allv. 



