62 PIGEONS. 



the next to the points that give grace and elegance. However, after all, the principal 

 points must be combined in harmony with each other. I should not always con- 

 sider the longest limb the best, as so much depends on the shape and covering of 

 the limb. The length of limb and length of feather should be in proportion, say a 

 6|-inch limb to an eighteen-inch bird, or 7-inches to a nineteen inch, is better than 

 a 7-inch limb to a 17^ bird, which gives what we have seen too often — long bodies 

 and short tails. I may also mention that in proportion to length of feather, the 

 hens have just as long limbs as cocks ; and I would almost say, from a sudden 

 recollection of all the hens I have had, or known, of any merit, that they would 

 average the same length of limb, nay, I could almost assert they were longer 

 in limb, in proportion to their length of feather. 



" I have known a hen measure 7^ inches, I never saw a cock measure that. 

 When you take 7 inches for a cock and 6J inches for a hen, I suppose you mean 

 that the hen should be about 1 inch shorter -in feather; if so, you may be right, 

 but I think the length of the limb goes with the bird in proportion to the size ; 

 take all the 18-inch cocks in any fancier's loft, and all the 18-inch hens, and I 

 think you will find the limbs measure the same on the average. I like the draw- 

 ing of Mr. Bult's Blue-pied Pouter very much, although the length of the wings 

 has been curtailed. 



" Is there not a want felt by beginners, in the way of a little more information, 

 as how to breed birds for particular points, as colour, length of limb, &c. ? we are 

 told in every publication what is considered perfection, and that all beginners 

 should aim at this, but how to do so is the question. I see you give us a little of 

 this in the ' Poultry Book,' but it might be extended ; practical knowledge is what 

 the breeder wants now-a-days ; he will not have the patience of bygone fanciers, and 

 toil through years of experience : such information that could be relied on would be 

 greedily devoured. I have been all my life a breeder of pigeons, and latterly I 

 have added poultry, since I have been able to keep them . I have all the books 

 published of any note, and I can scarcely put my hand upon a page that would 

 guide me to match up for certain points to be obtained." 



The suggestions of Mr. Paithven for the publication of practical directions for 

 the benefit of t'ie inexperienced amateur, appear to be of great importance, and we 

 will therefore state the results of our experience, and also of that of others, as 

 far as we have been able to ascertain them. 



The rock on which most Pouter-breeders have been wrecked has been a slavish 

 fear of breeding away from some one particular colour. 



Blue-pied birds have generally been matched with blue-pieds, black-pieds with 

 black-pieds, whites with whites, and so on through the whole of the varieties. The 

 late Mr. Bult was one of those who rejected this practice, and it was to his freedom of 

 action that his great success was mainly to be attributed. When he first embarked 

 in the Pouter fancy, he threw large size into his strain by crossing his breed with 

 a very large, long-feathered Eunt, of a white ground colour, mottled with light 

 red, and which he termed an " almond-mottled " bird. 



