72 PIGEONS. 



short grass. They breed, freely, are perfectly hardy, and require no special 

 attention to ensure their rearing their young with success. 



Within the last few years a second variety of small Pouters has been introduced 

 into England. The first that came under our notice were those exhibited by 

 Dr. Harvey of Cork, who showed black and red birds at the Cork exhibition, 

 under the title of Brunnen Pouters. 



The best of these birds are perfect Pouters in miniature ; and if we except the 

 pied markings on the full-sized birds, they possess every property that distin- 

 guishes the English Pouter, but reduced to the smallest possible size. In fulness 

 of crop, in erect carriage, in slenderness of girth, and in length of limb, they are 

 perfect. 



The original birds that were first imported were very bare on the shanks, a 

 failing that detracted much from their appearance; but which has been remedied by 

 careful breeding, and well-feathered specimens are now to be obtained. 



In colour they vary considerably. We have at the present time some of these 

 little pigmy Pouters, as they have been most appropriately termed, that are 

 purely white; these are excessively elegant. Others are entirely red; a third set 

 black; whilst some, which are not the least attractive, are blue, with the usual 

 black bars; and others are silver, with white bars. A few are fawn-coloured, whilst 

 some are very elegantly marked or chequered on the wings, like the Parisian 

 Pouter, as described by Moore in the account quoted at page 50. 



"We have not yet succeeded in breeding any that are pied like the English 

 Pouters ; but there is no doubt that with a little care this could be accomplished. 

 In fact, it was done by the late Sir John Sebright. Mr. J. M. Eaton, in his 

 " Treatise on Pigeons," states he was present at the sale of the birds that was 

 held after Sir John's death, and that he was surprised, " on looking at his Pouters, 

 to find that he had reduced the English Pouter down to such little Lilliputians, 

 or ' multum in parvo' Pouters, possessing in an elegant degree the properties of 

 the English Pouter. Sir John no doubt reduced tbem all he possibly could; 

 preserving all their elegant properties." 



There can be but little doubt that Sir John Sebright obtained a stock of the 

 small pigmy or Brunnen Pouters as a basis of operations, and introduced 

 the pied markings of the English breed, retaining the diminutive size of the 

 German birds. 



We have not been able to trace the destination of the birds that were sold after 

 Sir John Sebright's decease, but presume that, from want of care, the breed 

 became extinct. His laced bantams have become firmly established in the public 

 estimation, but the pigeons appear to have been entirely lost. This is to be 

 regretted, as a prettier variety could not be introduced. We have, however, 

 no doubt but that they will become in request ; and as the exquisitely elegant little 

 Game bantam is appreciated as a miniature of the gallant Game cock, so will the 

 pigmy Pouter be admired by those who estimate the noble English breed. 



It may interest our readers to know the exact size of good birds of this variety, 



