IMPORTANCE OF PEOPORTION. 147 



chiefly lost in crossing, with the Runt to gain size ; and it 

 needs more attention' yet. than it sometimes receives. 



"Length of feather," or of body, as Moore called it, is 

 measured (when measured at all) by stretchiag a tape over 

 the head, from the point of the beak to the end of the taU. 

 In old days Pouters were usually judged in this way, and 

 many have been bred over twenty inches; but this property 

 has long been relegated into a position subordinate to length 

 of limb. It will be obvious, on reflection, that if the tail be 

 too long in proportion to the limbs, it must, by encountering 

 the floor, tip tlie bi/rd forwa/rd, preventing that statuesque and 

 upright carriage which is so much admired. Formerly Pouteis 

 were judged standing on a block, which is still used to dis- 

 play their carriage. In that position the tail can hang down 

 below the level of the feet ; but as soon as the birds came to 

 be judged on the flat floor of a large pen this advantage was 

 taken away, and tail became necessarily subordinate to due 

 proportion — a most happy thing for any pigeon. It will be 

 found that it requires about a seven-inch limb to carry even 

 nineteen inches in feather ; and this property has therefore 

 seldom to be measured for. Sometimes the flights are short 

 in proportion to the taU, which is a blemish, and spoils the 

 symmetry of the bird. 



" Colour and marking " come last, but are much needed 

 to set off a good bird, though the best cannot make a Pouter. 

 There are five recognised standard colours, viz. : " Pieds " in 

 black, blue, red, and yellow; and Whites. The last are 

 pure all over, and need no remark; and as they are less 

 trouble to breed, do not in open competition stand so high as 

 the Pied varieties. These are of the colour they are pied with 

 — black, blue, red, or yellow — over the whole body generally, 

 with the exception of a crescentic white mark on the crop, 

 which is desired as even in shape as possible. The round patch of 

 colour which forms the top of this is called the " bib," and if it 



