64 PIGEONS. 



White, in the language of the fanciers, is a " strong " colour, that is to say, it is 

 one that reproduces itself with great force, and readily overpowers other colours 

 existing in the bird to which it is matched. 



Having treated of breeding for colour, it is now desirable to speak of the 

 most certain modes of obtaining the other characteristics. In breeding for length 

 of limb and feather, it should not be forgotten that the influence of the hen over 

 form and size is generally superior to that of the cock : thus a poor cock mated 

 with a superior hen, will produce much better birds than a good cock if matched 

 with a short-limbed hen ; size and limb take after the female parent, colour more 

 usually follows the male. Thus a white cock with a long-limbed mealy hen, 

 would be more likely to throw good white birds than a mealy cock with a white 

 hen. 



It is always desirable to mate birds so that any deficiency in one shall be 

 counteracted by the other ; thus a bird with very heavily feathered legs would be 

 judiciously mated with one deficient in this quality. Another with too much 

 white with one that has too little, and so on. 



As extreme vigour of constitution is required in the Pouter, it is always de- 

 sirable to avoid too close interbreeding ; brother and sister should never be matched, 

 nor, if possible, should any birds be paired that are closely related, as weakness 

 of the limbs, and deterioration alike of size and length of limb, will be the result ; 

 whereas, on the other hand, the extraordinary influence of a total change of blood in 

 giving vigour, size, and constitutional hardihood can hardly be overrated. 



We now have to consider the arrangements most desirable for the accommoda- 

 tion of a stud of Pouters. The size and peculiar habits of these birds render 

 necessary a very considerable modification of the arrangements that are usually 

 made for the other varieties of domestic pigeons. Their height necessitates pens 

 of much greater altitude, their length of feather requires a large increase of size 

 in their nesting-places and cages, and the desirability of getting them into show 

 renders it almost imperative for the Pouter fancier to have such an arrangement 

 of his loft as will admit of his penning the whole of his birds separately during the 

 winter months, that is, from immediately after the moulting season until they 

 are matched up anew in the spring. First-class Pouters cannot be advanta- 

 geously kept, either in dovecotes, pigeon-houses, or lofts, such as may be devoted 

 without inconvenience to many of the other varieties ; and except in country 

 districts where they are secure from molestation, they cannot be safely flown at 

 large, as they are so tame that they may frequently be taken uj> in the hand, and 

 when they are strutting about with inflated crops, they offer themselves as easy 

 victims to predatory cats. Hence, in towns, Pouters are always kept in rooms or 

 enclosed aviaries, and these are fitted up with pens for the nesting and con- 

 finement of the birds. 



Mr. Eaton, in his "New and Improved Diagram or Plan of Building or Fitting 

 ap a Pigeonary," gives a design for pens that are to be placed against the side of 

 a room or enclosed aviary. 



