A ttractions of a Carrier. 
5i 
well ; and some which might more properly be termed stout Dragoons have been trained to fly 
fair distances ; but these are not such birds as we have to consider here. 
Few pigeons are so fascinating as the Carrier, when once thoroughly understood and 
appreciated. First of all, there are so many points or qualities, or “ properties,” as the old fanciers 
called them, required to make a model bird, and which in combination (for any one of them, 
except a good beak-wattle, can be obtained with comparative ease) are so difficult to obtain, that 
no one has ever yet possessed a perfect bird, and very few have obtained specimens even 
approaching perfection. Secondly, from this cause high-class birds are so exceedingly valuable 
that they are usually in the possession of men of means — the very aristocracy of the pigeon-fancy 
— which of itself has an attraction to many ; though we have also known poor but skilful breeders, 
by perseverance and judgment, beat the best that money could produce, the very difficulty adding 
to the charm. Then, again, there are so many attractive points to be seen, even in an imperfect 
specimen, and so many striking attitudes to be observed in a bird of good carriage, from whatever 
point he may be viewed — he looks so bold, wild, and daring — that it is no wonder he has so many 
admirers. We have heard it said that, whether he breeds them or not, “no one is a true pigeon- 
fancier who does not admire a Carrier;” and it is at least true that nearly all pigeon-fanciers, 
whatever their own favourite pigeon be, do give a lingering examination to the Carrier pens. 
There are three stages in a Carrier’s life, in all which, if it be really a fine specimen, it 
challenges admiration in its own way. The first is when the bird has attained the age of about 
six months, an age which to many is especially attractive, and when many a young beginner 
imagines he has become possessed of an almost perfect bird. This agreeable delusion very possibly 
lasts to the age of nearly ten months, when the beak-wattle begins to break out, and too often so 
irregularly, or more on one side than the other, or in some other way it is not desired to do, that 
the owner, if a good judge, sees at once his chance is gone. There are, in fact, endless faults in the 
formation of the beak-wattle alone, which too often vex the most experienced breeders, and dash 
to the ground all their hopes of a favourite bird. The second stage is from the age of eighteen 
months to two years, when the bird, having so far matured well, begins to give promise of what it 
should be, yet is by no means fully developed in all Carrier points. Even at this stage too many 
disappointments await the amateur ; for not unfrequently, even when the bird has shown a well- 
formed wattle so far, it ceases at this time to grow, and becomes hard, thereby in degree spoiling 
the pigeon as a show bird. These disappointments chiefly occur with the smaller or late-hatched 
birds, which, if of good stock, will often go on to develop a large well-formed eye-wattle, but 
comparatively seldom a good beak-wattle, which is rarely found well-developed except in a large 
strong bird, with a stout beak, small beaks not seeming able to grow it. In such cases, where the 
parents are good-wattled birds, all the growth seems to go into the eye-wattle, which often becomes 
what is called “ fleshy-eyed,” and besides looking too heavy for the rest of the bird, is very subject 
to inflammation and to those excrescent growths called “ spouts,” to be hereafter described. 
Such eyes are also far more subject to colds and other diseases. The final stage is when all the 
foregoing have been safely passed, and the bird has fully matured, which is from three to four 
years old. It is then that all his properties are fully developed, and he shows what the Carrier 
ought to be — not perfectly, for we have never seen a perfect bird yet — but in such fair degree as 
he is capable of. He is now complete, and all that is required is to watch over him, to breed him 
with judgment, and to show him with care. 
To breed and rear Carriers to the greatest advantage, and to avoid dangers which often cause 
the loss of valuable birds (as we have again and again witnessed) they should have somewhat 
different accommodation from other pigeons ; in fact their domicile should be expressly arranged 
