7 he Beak of a Carrier. 
59 
the most difficult points to get approaching perfection. It must be long and straight, and not 
only long in actual measurement, but should appear even longer than it really is ; though this to a 
great extent depends upon the proper shape and setting-on of the beak-wattle. In measuring the 
length of face or beak, two modes are in use, the little implement shown in Fig. 31 being used in 
both. It consists simply of a scale three inches long, divided into eighths and sixteenths of an 
inch, and with a sliding stop or index, which can be fastened by a screw. In using it, the end of the 
beak is put against the stop, which is adjusted till the free end of the scale coincides with the other 
point of measurement. This is with most of the London fanciers, and some others, the nearest 
edge of the iris of the eye, or inner edge of the eye-wattle ; but this mode of measurement is very 
objectionable. It is fair for most young birds, but most unfair to many good old birds, in which 
the eye becomes sometimes so open and wide, that though really very long-faced, they would lose 
at least an eighth of an inch in measurement against a close-eyed bird. The only fair mode for all 
birds, therefore, is to measure from the point of the beak, at A , to the centre of the pupil of the eye. 
This mode of measurement, we are glad to see, is coming more into favour of late, and it ought to 
be that always employed ; hence it will be understood that all measurements referred to in this 
work will be reckoned from the centre of the eye. It is, however, very seldom measurement is 
required, for, as previously observed, what is of more importance is that the bird appear to the eye 
to be long in beak, &c., compared with its other proportions ; and the rule is only to be applied 
in those exceedingly rare cases in which birds appear so evenly matched that it is really 
needed to determine their respective rank. For example, a bird that is large and coarse will often 
measure a deal more in length of face or beak than an almost perfect model of a bird ; and the 
same remark may be applied to length of neck, as a coarse large bird, that has really no length of 
neck in fair proportion, might measure longer than a fine symmetrical bird. The chief beauty of 
a Carrier, in fact, in the eyes of good judges, does not lie in the extraordinary development of any 
one point, or of several points, such as beak-wattle or length of face ; but in the symmetry, or 
proper proportionate development, of the various points throughout the whole bird. In regard to 
actual length of face, a bird measuring one inch and seven-eighths from the point of the beak, A , 
to the centre of the eye is certainly very good in this respect, and if over this so much the better. 
Such a bird, measured in the London style, to the front edge of the eye, would, in most cases, be 
one inch and three-quarters ; but those well-known to London fanciers as “ diamond-eyed birds,” 
in which the eye-wattle, instead of being round in the inner circle, forms a corner at front and back, 
would often lose fully three-sixteenths of an inch as compared with the centre measurement, which 
is, therefore, as we have said, the only mode fair to all birds. 
But length alone is not sufficient for a good beak. It must be thick and massive, and a proper 
shape, which is straight, close-fitting, and blunt or heavy at the point, the lower mandible, C , 
showing as much substance and being nearly as long as the upper mandible, B . It is these latter 
qualities together which form the much-desired “box-beak;” and perhaps nothing pleases a 
Carrier-breeder better than to find any of his young ones possessed of this desirable quality. It is 
quite an easy matter to breed long-faced birds with what are called spindle-beaks, or with the upper 
mandible nearly twice as heavy as the lower, and curved so as to show an open space between 
them, and often projecting and curving downwards clean over the point of the under mandible. 
It is also easy to breed thick straight beaks with short faces ; but the difficulty is to get the 
length with the straight, massive, close-fitting beak. And this is not purely a “fancy” point either; 
for the spindle-beaked birds, owing to the dust getting in at the open space between the mandibles, 
or perhaps still more from the mouth being kept so dry by the access of air, are very subject to 
canker in the lower mandible, which will sometimes even drop off. Sometimes the upper mandible 
