CHAPTEE VIII. 



THE DBAG0N. 



HPHERE is perhaps no variety or hreed of pigeons respecting which there has 

 -*-been more dispute than the race known as Dragons. The variety that the 

 Dragon most closely resembles is unquestionably the Carrier, and it is stated in 

 the older works on pigeons, that it was produced by mating a Tumbler with a 

 Horseman or a Carrier. Thus Moore writes, " This pigeon is absolutely and 

 without dispute a bastard strain, being bred originally from a Horseman to a 

 Tumbler, and by matching their breed often to the Horseman they will obtain a 

 tolerable degree of stoutness." But whatever may have been the case previously, 

 at the present time the breed is firmly established, and has its own distinctive 

 peculiarities — peculiarities that it would take many generations of careful breeding 

 to produce. It would therefore be a very unprofitable task to try to produce anew 

 such a race of birds as those now known as Dragons. 



The Dragon, as at present showu, is a bird of above the average size, with a 

 bold spirited upright carriage ; the neck is held erect, and the wings closely 

 pressed to the sides. Its attitude and movements indicate great muscular strength 

 and the capability of vigorous and rapid flight. 



The characteristics of the head are strongly marked. The eye is large, full, 

 a\id in the blue breed of a brilliant orange red ; the eye wattle small, neat, and 

 circular. The beak wattle is small, neat, and should be tilted forward from the 

 forehead. The beak is black, tapering, and slightly curved, differing very much in 

 its character from the elongated "box beak" that distinguishes a Carrier. The 

 plumage is more firm and dense than in any other variety of fancy pigeon. The 

 wings are fully developed, not only as regards the bony framework and muscle, 

 but also in the quill or flight feathers. 



From the close character of the plumage of the neck and body the wing stands 

 out from the breast, and gives an appearance of great firmness and strength to 

 the bird. 



Mr. Jones Percival, one of the most ardent admirers and successful breeders of 

 this variety, states : — 



"My idea of what a Dragon should be is as follows : — In a blue Dragon the 

 colour should not resemble that of a light blue Owl or Turbit, but should be a dark 

 sound blue ; the bars on the wings should be perfectly black and broad ; the 

 metallic lustre of the neck should reach as low down in front as the point of the 



