Length of Limb. 
105 
before remarked, it is also liable to occur from feeding young ones. If, therefore, the fancier 
possesses birds of fine shape, and wishes to keep them so as long as possible, he should let the 
hen hatch and feed as few young ones as possible, and only allow them even these for eight or 
ten days to feed off the soft food, transferring them then to other feeders. Nothing more surely 
puts a fine Pouter out of shape than free breeding and rearing. For this reason, while Mr. Ure 
is correct in his statement that a staff of feeders are not absolutely necessary, we strongly 
recommend them, and they should be of the strong and vigorous kind, such as large Dragoons, 
common Antwerps, or other large strong birds. Some of the bastard-feathered Pouters, or other 
coarse and strong products of the loft, will often be found, from their tameness, better feeders 
than any others, and in this variety it is especially advisable to obtain by care a thoroughly 
reliable staff of good feeders. We have hinted at this in our general chapters ; but in the case of 
Pouters especially, we may say that this point is of nearly as much importance to success as getting 
a good stock. Nothing is more provoking to a fancier than to see he has got a grand young bird, 
and then have the conviction unwillingly forced upon him that he will never be able to rear it. 
Perhaps more have “given up ” Pouters owing to vexatious — we were going to say heart-breaking 
— disappointments of this nature, than from any other cause ; and as it is hard enough to rear a 
good bird of this variety, even with the tamest, gentlest, and strongest feeders, all who begin 
breeding them will do well to spend a deal of trouble on their staff of nurses. 
Next we come to the most valuable and most difficult to attain of all the properties, viz., the 
form and apparent length of leg. We are aware that some prefer an extra long leg, no matter of what 
style, to one of less measurement, although the latter may be nicely formed, and look to the eye a 
great deal longer. We would simply ask, of what good is a quality that only appears under the rule, 
and cannot be seen if no one has a measure in his pocket ? We put length of leg first in value among 
all the properties ; but we do most earnestly protest, as will every skilled Pouter fancier, against 
what has very much been the rule with English judges of this pigeon — giving prizes to mere 
measurement. No Scotch judge would think of deciding in such a manner; yet in England we 
have ourselves frequently won prizes with half-bred Runts which no ordinary hand could get round, 
being not only so wide and thick at the shoulders, but so deep in the breast, as to weigh nearly 
double what a Pouter should be, but which “measured” well in length of limb and feather. We 
have sent such birds, knowing what the judges would require, and desiring for our own sake to 
meet their ideas ; and we have often had in the same class with these half-bred Runts really good 
Pouters, showing to the eye a great deal more length of limb and feather, much finer in globe and 
marking, and in fact three times the birds all over that the others were ; yet found them passed over 
because showing a little less in mere measurement. We are glad to say that of late English judges 
and fanciers have shown more signs of conforming to Scotch ideas on this subject, and of con- 
sidering the form and style of the birds more than their mere length. We go so far as to say that 
the rule should never be used in judging Pouters, unless either to determine a disputed point as to 
which bird is the longest in feather and limb, or when two birds are so nearly on a par in general 
appearance and qualities, that some tangible reason must be sought for making an award. In 
measuring length of limb, the thumb nail or blade of a pocket-knife is put close against the upper 
joint of the thigh, where it forms a kind of notch or opening, and the length then taken to the end 
of the middle toe-nail stretched fairly out to full length, but not so as to hurt the bird. One 
objection to mere measurement is, that a long or short toe-nail may make an eighth of an inch 
difference, while not the slightest importance to the real value of the bird. 
It is very difficult to judge Pouters correctly as regards this, or indeed any other point-— nay, 
we would almost say that it is nearly impossible to judge Pouters correctly at all — in the ordinary 
14 
