76 PIGEONS. 



" The last three properties are those of the eye, which ought to be broad, 

 round, and of an equal thickness ; for if one part of the eye be thinner than 

 the rest, it is said to be pinch-eyed, which is deemed a very great imperfection ; 

 whereas if it has the contrary properties, it is said to have a rose-eye, which is very 

 valuable. 



" To these, some add the distance which is between the hinder part of the 

 wattle and the edge of the eye ; but I cannot allow this to be a property, because 

 when a Carrier comes to be three or four years old, if the eye is broad and the 

 wattle large, they must of necessity meet : the distance, therefore, seems to be 

 rather a property of the Horseman. 



" Another distinguishing mark of the Carrier is the length and thinness of its 

 neck, which some call a property ; and it must be allowed to add a very great 

 beauty to this bird, especially considering the breadth of its chest. 



" Its feather is chiefly black or dun, though there are likewise blues, whites, 

 and pieds of each feather, but the black and dun answer best the foregoing 

 properties ; yet the blues and blue pieds are generally esteemed for their 

 scarcity, though they will not usually come up to the properties of the fore- 

 going feathers." 



Since the time of Moore, the Carrier, as a fancy pigeon, has been even increasing 

 in the estimation in which it is held by fanciers. To so high a pitch has it now 

 risen that £20 is no uncommon price to be given for a very perfect bird, one that 

 is capable of taking a high position in a close competition at a competitive show, 

 and there is no doubt that the standard of the breed or the perfection of the 

 properties has been varied since the publication of the " Columbarium " in 1735. 



Some time since the members of the National Columbarian Society drew up a 

 most elaborate and valuable paper on the properties of the Carrier. 



The members stated, " We shall endeavour to describe the properties which in 

 the aggregate constitute the perfect Carrier of the present day. In this labour of 

 love we have spared no pains to give value and truthfulness to our report, inas- 

 much as nothing has been taken for granted, or upon any previous authority, but 

 the standard measurements have been carefully verified on first-class living birds. 

 "We have endeavoured to fix the relative value of the properties by the employment 

 of numerals. We attach much importance to this, the most practical part of our 

 efforts, not merely because we believe it may serve to guide young fanciers 

 respecting the quality of the birds they may select, but in the hope that it may 

 tend to produce uniformity in, and prevent dissatisfaction with, the awards of 

 judges; for if it be conceded that our appreciation of the different points is correct, 

 it follows that the awarding of a first, second, or third prize becomes, in the great 

 majority of cases, a matter of simple addition. Trusting that our opinions now 

 recorded may coincide with those of our brother fanciers, we entertain the hope that 

 one result at least will be gained by the publication of this paper, namely, the 

 opinion of the fancy at large upon the standard we have drawn, and the relative 

 value of the different points : — 



