CHAPTER V. 



THE ENGLISH POUTER. 



F treating of the different varieties of breeds of domestic pigeons, either one 

 of two methods might be pursued. A naturalist would regard it as most 

 desirable to commence with the wild species, and trace the different breeds from 

 it ; taking in the first instance those that showed the least departure from their 

 wild progenitors. Such a method of procedure would, however, not be acceptable 

 to the fancier, who regards the natural bird with slight esteem, and values his 

 specimens precisely in proportion as they depart from the original standard. 



As this work is on the domesticated pigeon, and is written for the use of the 

 fancier rather than for that of the naturalist, it is more desirable to commence 

 with the most highly valued varieties ; and therefore the so-called high-class birds, 

 the Pouters, Carriers, and Short-faced Tumblers, will first engage our attention, 

 as these breeds, with some few others, such as the Barbs and small African Owls, 

 offer the strongest instances of departure, at least in structural peculiarities, from 

 the formation of the original stock. 



The history of the origin of the English Pouter has not been very accurately 

 recorded. In all probability it was due to cross-breeding with, and careful selec- 

 tion from, the old Dutch Cropper, the Uploper, or the Parisian Pouter. These 

 breeds are alluded to by Willughby in his " Ornithology," published in 1678, and 

 edited by the celebrated naturalist John Ray, and are described in the first 

 distinct work on the natural history of tame pigeons, namely, the " Colum- 

 barium " of John Moore, which was published in 1735, and which was reprinted, 

 almost verbatim, without acknowledgment, in the anonymous " Treatise on 

 Domestic Pigeons," published in 1765, in " The Complete Pigeon Fancier," 

 ascribed to Daniel Girton, and which is reproduced with many notes in Mr. 

 Eaton's well-known " Treatise." Of these breeds Moore writes as follows : — 



"The Dutch Cropper. — This pigeon seems to be originally Dutch, being 

 naturally thick, and its name is derived from a large bag, or crop of wind, which 

 they carry under their beak, and can at pleasure either raise or depress ; they are 

 thick-bodied and short ; their legs are likewise thick, short, and feathered down 

 to their feet ; their crop is large, but always hangs low; the feathers on their thighs 

 hang loose, whereby they are said to be flag-thighed ; their legs stand wide, and 

 they seldom play upright ; they are gravel-eyed, and are generally very bad feeders, 



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