io8 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
the better does he show off his length and style of limb ; but there are lots of short-flighted birds. 
As a rule these are either bred late, or the produce of pigeons bred too long without a cross— 
a plan which always produces weakness, of which want of strength in feather is one sign. Birds 
bred and kept in too confined places are also apt to become short in flights and tail, so that 
the more liberty can be afforded them the better. Pouters allowed to fly are always better on 
the average in these points — length of flights and tail — and not only so, but the wings are 
clipped close up to the body, adding to the slenderness of girth and sprightliness of appearance 
generally. Short-flighted birds are often what we have already described as “ hog-backed,” or 
convex instead of concave in the back, which gives a coarse Runtish look. This fault in 
the back is also found in birds which have extra deep breast-bones. This last is often a 
blot in extra-large early-bred cocks ; and all birds bred from a cross with the Runt are sure 
to possess it. 
The last general property of the Pouter is what is termed “ length of feather,” on which we 
need add nothing to what has been so ably stated by Mr. Ure, with whom we thoroughly agree. 
This length is measured by stretching a tape from the point of the beak over the head to the end 
of the longest tail-feather. In breeding, whatever produces length of flights — such as early 
hatching — will also produce length of feather in some measure. When birds were judged on their 
blocks this property could not fail to be exaggerated, but, as already pointed out, putting them to 
“ show” upon the level, wherever practised, must produce a just balance between this property and 
length of limb. 
In regard to colour, we have nothing to add to the exhaustive observations of Mr. Ure, with 
whom we fully agree ; but it may be well to describe more particularly than he has done the proper 
markings of a standard Pouter, or, as old Moore terms it, the way in which he “ ought to be pied.” 
The head is coloured, and in fact the whole neck, back, and crop, except a crescent-shaped band of 
white coming round the front of the crop, the points or horns reaching up within a short distance 
of the eye, but by no means going round or meeting at the back of the head. Should it do so, 
the bird has the foul marking known as “ ring-neck.” The bib, or coloured patch coming down 
from the throat and forming the upper edge of the half moon, should be well defined ; and in its 
absence, or if white appear in place of it, the bird is “ swallow-throated.” The colour with which 
the bird is pied extends in Blues and Blacks all down the back and tail, and to the end of the 
wing-coverts on the wings, except a few white feathers on the shoulders, which are desired as 
nearly as may be to fall in a small circular patch, which is then called the “ rose-pinion.” This 
is, however, very rare, a few white ticks being considered good, if clear of the edge ; if the white, 
however, runs out in a patch to the edge of the wing, the bird is “ lawn-sleeved,” or “ bishopped,” 
as it is more often termed now. Blues should be barred with black across the wings and tail, 
as usual in all blue pigeons. Red and Yellow-picds have the tail white, it being impossible to 
breed them dark as in Blacks and Blues ; but could it ever be done, no doubt all Pouter fanciers 
would prefer it, as keeping up the proper standard by which birds should be pied. The flights 
are pure white ; if not, the bird is said to be “foul-flighted and the legs and thighs also must 
be pure white, any colour making a bird “ foul-thighed.” 
Besides the perfect standard colours, there are those known as Mealies, in which the same 
colour prevails, but of a much duller and more powdered appearance. A Red Mealy is often 
termed a “ Sandy ” in Scotland; and what is called there a Silver-Mealy is little worse than a 
softer shade of blue, with brown, or what arc called by Pouter fanciers “ kite” bars. These Silver- 
Mealy birds are very beautiful, as well as valuable for breeding ; and not a few would be well 
pleased to sec them elevated to the rank of a standard class. Mealies, Sandies, and Chequers arc 
