The Breeds of Pigeons. 179 



lows, which in Pouters, as in many other breeds, 

 seem all too difficult for the average fancier to breed 

 up to the standard. The chief failing in Red and 

 Yellow Pouters is deficienc}^ in tail colouring. 



PIGMY POUTERS. 



' ■ The Pigmy Pouter is one of the breeds which has 

 made extensive headway during the twentieth cen- 

 tury, not only in merit, but also in the numbers of 

 its adherents. It is, in all things except size, the 

 exact counterpart of the: Pouter ; there is, however, 

 this difference, that whereas Pouters, if they possess 

 slimness and no coarseness, cannot be too big- on the 

 other hand the Pigmy, whilst possessing the char- 

 acteristics of the Pouter, cannot be too small. To- 

 daj^ we have quite a number of Pigmies which are, 

 indeed, veritable miniature Pouters, and their number 

 is increasing. In shape, style and limb the Pigmies 

 have much improved of late, and they are still im- 

 proving. 



The colours are blues, silvers, blacks, reds, yel- 

 lows, whites, chequers and duns, and judgin.g bj' the 

 numbers shown their popularity is in the order in 

 which I have given them. 



THE NORWICH CROPPER. 



This is a very old variety which, in these latter 

 days, has come into favour again. In the days that 

 are gone they are supposed to have played a big part 

 in the making of the English Pouter. I remember, 

 many years ago, before I had much to do with the 

 Pigeon Fancy, ho-w I used in my visits to Norwich 

 to see huge flocks of Croppers about the stable-j^ards 

 and farm-yards, in and near the city. In those days 

 they were kept for their flying properties ; and ven^ 

 attractive indeed are the aerial performances of a 

 flock of Croppers. To-da>' the Norwich Cropper is 

 a highly esteemed member of the show famil}^ and 

 is to be found scattered throughout the country. 



There is a striking resemblance between the 

 Pouter and the Norwich Cropper, and j^et at the same 

 time great differences. In the Pouter, length of limb 

 is the great feature. Not so in the Cropper. The 



