DIFFICULTIES IN POUTER BREEDING. 151 



understood that such length as is desired can only be main- 

 tained by great strength, and the difficulty is much increased 

 by the desire for slimness of girth, a strong large bird tending 

 to be coarse. Again, the extreme length of limb naturally 

 tends to make the legs weak as the young bird grows ; and 

 probably some of the finest limbs ever bred have never been 

 reared so as to be able to stand. The only means of over- 

 coming these difficulties we must now briefly point out. The 

 first is constant infusion of new blood, which in Pouters 

 cannot be dispensed with, unless the breeder has a very wide 

 stock ; and, for reasons just stated, this should occasionally be 

 given in the shape of coarse, heavily-feathered birds, but always 

 looking for a good length of shank. The vulture-hocks need 

 shortening during the breeding season. A second means is to 

 rear each promising bird singly under a pair of proved hearty 

 feeders, such as large Dragoons or Antwerps. And lastly, great 

 benefit will be found from giving each bird every morning and 

 evening a bolus, made of oatmeal and bone-dust, mixed up with 

 a few drops of Parrish's compound syrup of phosphate of iron, 

 or what is equally good, simple syrup of hypophosphite of lime. 

 As the birds grow they should have plenty of exercise in a 

 good aviary. 



Pouters need careful training to show to advantage. They 

 should always be accustomed to be taken up and talked to, so 

 as to lose all fear; but as soon as they are nearly through moult, 

 those to be exhibited are regularly drilled. Each bird is placed in 

 a high pen with a block in the centre of its floor, and so arranged 

 that a cock and hen may be suddenly allowed to see each other. 

 Every time the owner visits them, which must be often, he 

 calls to them with the peculiar Pouter call,* and perhaps also 



* This is variously described, and, indeed, different individuals do not use 

 precisely the same. Some pronounce it hua, hua ; others hee-he, hee-he ; and 

 others hoo-ie, hoo-ie. We have heard it surmised that a celebrated Scotch 

 fancier derives his name from traditional connection with Pouter breeding ; 

 and a well-known writer certainly spells the call as h/uie, huie. 



