White Pouters. 
i i ; 
knowledge, we believe that these colours were particularly excellent, and have never been surpassed. 
We find reason also to believe that they were very plentiful round and in London. But lately, by 
such injudicious breeding as we refer to, and will presently more particularly describe, the birds 
were not only allowed to dwindle down sadly in size and length, but became very scarce indeed. 
Still these degenerated birds had good blood in them ; and no sooner were they properly mated or 
crossed than they showed their “ breed and we once purchased the stock (and a pretty good 
stock too) of a fancier, whose whole loft was bred from a pair of “cast-offs” from the degenerate 
stud of a London fancier — a publican in Spitalfields — all whose stock were Red and Yellow-pieds. 
Not only so, but at a sale some more of this same man’s stock passed into the possession of 
Mr. Bult, the celebrated London breeder we have before referred to ; and from these crossed with 
what he had, he bred the only really good Reds and Yellows he ever had, having previously turned 
his attention to Blue-pieds or Whites. At the time of purchasing these small but handsome Reds 
and Yellows, Mr. Bult had great doubts of producing much good from them ; and it was in fact our 
having sent the same stock to Scotland and being able to speak as to its produce, that chiefly 
determined him, and was the means of an acquaintance developing into a friendship, so that we 
knew more of his stock than probably any one else did. 
This gentleman was also really fond of both Splashed and Grizzled Pouters, some of which he 
termed “ Almond-feathered.” We could not agree with him there, never having seen one of the 
birds he called such with what constitutes the true Almond feather, viz., three colours, particularly 
the yellow ground. Those he thus termed were scarcely possessed of more than two colours — 
black, and a kind of grizzly white — and we never saw a really Almond-feathered Pouter ; but as 
the same variety of colours that produce the almond-feather are found in the Pouter, we believe 
that such could be bred without any extraordinary difficulty as regards feather alone. The Pied 
Pouter being, however, as it is, so very hard to produce with fine points and good colour combined, 
the additional difficulty of almond-feathering would make such a stupendous task that we do not 
envy any one who sets it before him ; and we question much if, even supposing the feather 
obtained and on good birds, it would appear to suit the pigeon well. Still, if any one desires 
a fancy which is certainly possible of attainment, yet of difficulty hitherto unapproached, we 
recommend them to breeding Almond-feathered Pouters. 
The breeding of Whites gives less trouble than any of the standard Pied varieties, for the 
simple reason that the difficulty of colour and marking is done away with. Hence it is only right 
and natural that Whites should occupy but a secondary place in the eyes of true Pouter fanciers, 
who find their delight in vanquishing the difficulties of the Pied colours. Some would even put it 
after Mealies and Chequers, but we think they should stand at least on a par ; and in a class where 
both competed, and the prize was given for “ the best Pouter,” we would certainly give it to the 
White, if at all better in properties than the Mealy. We have granted that the Mealy-barred is a 
most useful bird to the breeder, perhaps the most useful there is, breeding back to any colour from 
which it sprang, and also for breeding Blues with a Blue, Whites with a White, Black-pied with a 
Black, &c. Still, no one breeds them purposely, if he can produce the proper standard of Pied 
colour instead ; whereas Whites are bred for, and therefore should, in our judgment, stand a shade 
higher. But we think with Mr. Ure, that it is often ranked too high. To many judges there is 
nothing more attractive to the eye than a White Pouter in good plumage ; and if such a one has 
never been a breeder, so as to know the difficulties of breeding Pied birds, he is very apt to let this 
fancy for mere “pretty looks” run away with him. We grant that if a White has longer and 
better-formed limbs, better crop, is better in girth and feather, &c., it may fairly be given prizes 
over even a Pied, because these points do make it a “better Pouter;” and though the Pied bird 
