CARRIAGE, HEAD, AND BEAK. 115 



flights, the rest being invariably deficient in black For these 

 reasons it is generally necessary m showing pairs of Almonds 

 to select a hen a year older than the cock, to make a matched 

 pair; and the beginner must guard, in selecting his breeding 

 stock, against rejecting hens for being too light, since he must 

 remember that in breeding effect they match much darker-look- 

 ing cocks. The one thing that should be avoided is a rump 

 mealy or spangled with white. 



Following Eaton's Treatise, " shape or carriage " is the 

 next property in an Almond. While the chest is broad, the 

 neck must rapidly taper till it becomes very thin at the gullet ; 

 and this tapering neck is to be thrown far back in an extremely 

 pert and saucy way that is very attractive. Our figures will 

 show this point plainly, and also the peculiar trailing of the 

 wings on or near the ground, which is the second point in good 

 carriage. In the third place, the legs are very fine and short, 

 and the bird walks (when showing itself off) on tip-toe. The 

 flights and tail are short. It may be remarked here that the 

 whole bird is small — ^the smallest in the pigeon fancy except 

 the Foreign Owl. 



The next property is termed "head." This is desired as 

 short and round as possible, but broad and high in proportion. 

 The forehead rises abruptly from the base of the beak, and 

 even overhangs, which is called having a good " stop." When 

 a head does not thus overhang, or at least rise up abruptly, it 

 is termed " mousey," or " pleasant-faced." The head should be 

 large in proportion to the body, and it is also desired that the 

 feathers on the front of the cheeks should project well, or curve 

 outwards, which is called being " muffy." 



The fourth property is spoken of as " beak," and what is 

 meant is that it be short and fine. The length should not 

 exceed five-eighths of an inch from the centre of the eye to the 

 point, and the beak must run straight out, without any ap- 

 proach to a downward inclination. It must also be extremely 



