212 TBE COMPLETE POULTRY BOOK. 



The second group comprises the three races of Carriers, Hunts and Barl s. 

 These, especially the Carriers and Runts, grade into each other by almost imper- 

 ceptible degrees, while the Carriers also pass, through foreign breeds, ilfto the 

 Rock pigeon. This group is characterized by the beak being long, with the 

 skin over the nostrils often carunoulated or wattled, and with that aroUnd the 

 eyes bare and also carunoulated. 



The Cwrriers (Race II.) have elongated, narrow, jpointed beaks; eyes sur- 

 rounded by much naked, generally carunoulated, skin ; neck and body elon- 

 gated. They include four sub-races, namely : 



1. The EngKsh Ca/rrier. — This bird is of large size, with a greatly elongated 

 beak, neck and tongue. The carunculation around the eyes, over the nostrils, 

 and under the lower mandible is excessive. Birds of this race are too valuable 

 to be flown as carriers. 



2. Dragons, Permams, or Bagdad Carriers. — The English Dragon is smaller and 

 less carunculated than the English Carrier. 



3. Bagadottem, Taubeti, of Neumeister. — A German breed, closely allied to the 

 Runts. Peculiar from having a long, curved beak. Body large; feathers of 

 wings and tail comparatively short. 



Busaorah Carrier.-^A Persian breed, which differs from the Bagdad Carrier in 

 bearing a greater resemblance to the Rock pigeon. 



The names applied in different parts of Europe and in India to the several 

 kinds of carriers all point to Persia or ithe surrounding countries as being the 

 source of this race. 



The Runts (Race III.) have long, massive beaks, and bodies of great size. 

 The various sub-races shade into each other by such small differences that an 

 exact classification is impossible. The following five sub-races have been based 

 upon the most prominent differences: 



1. Sccunderoon of English writers. — Birds of this sub-race differ from the Bag- 

 adotten only in having the beak less curved downward, and in the naked skin 

 around the eyes and over the nostrils being but little carunculated. 



2. Pigeon cygne and Pigeon bagadcds (Soanderoon of French writers). — ^These 

 differ from the preceding in greater length of wing, shorter beak, and greater 

 carunculation. 



3. Spamish and Roman Rvmts. — ^Heavy, massive birds, with shorter necks, legs 

 and beaks than the foregoing races; but slightly carunculated; scarcely to be 

 distinguished as separate sub-races. 



4. Tronfo of Aldrovandus. — A variety described by Aldrovandus, but probably 

 now extinct. 



Murassa (Adorned Pigeon), of Madras.— A handsome^ checquered bird from 

 Madras, intermediate between the Rock pigeon and a very poor variety of Runt 

 or Carrier. 



5aj*« (Race IV.)— These have short, broad, deep beaks; naked skin around 

 the eyes, broad and carunculated ; skin over the nostrils slightly swollen. This 

 race is shown, to be closely related to the Carriers, espemally in the newly- 

 hatched of both races, which resemble each other much more closely than do 

 young pigeons of other and equally distinct breeds. The Barbs are really shor^ 

 beaked Carriers. • 



