122 
The Illustrated Book oe Plgeons. 
girth and leg-feather, both shown in the plate of the Black-pied cock, and the leg-feather in 
Fig. 38, on the last page, may be bred together. It is where the breeder can obtain a real cross of 
the same stamp nearly every season to keep up the strength of blood. He may do this if he has a 
very large stud himself, though we doubt if any one has such, large enough. In this case such 
a plan of breeding will do very well, and produces birds very uniform in leg-feather and other 
points, and excellent up to a certain point. Were the stock of good standard Pouters large enough, 
we are not sure this might not be the best way ; but as it is, with the limited stock available, this 
plan is not, even in the most favourable circumstances, that which is likely to produce extraordinary 
birds. The produce will be good — often very good — but is seldom out of the way in dimensions ; 
and a “wonderful ” Pouter is hardly ever thus produced — at all events, not nearly so often as by 
other methods of mating. 
Before, however, going into these, it is necessary to describe more particularly the variations 
which are met with in the feathering of the “ limbs.” First of all is the “ thin,” or spindle-legged 
bird, which is more or less wanting in feather, so as to show part of the feet, and even of 'the 
shanks. This may be carried so far as in Fig. 41, or it may be in less degree, only showing a few 
bare places on the toes, as in Fig. 39. Next comes the proper show limb, as already described, in 
which the shank is nicely and smoothly covered, and the toes also well-furnished with handsome 
spreading feathers, so as just barely to show the toe-nails. In perfection, this class of limb should 
be just softly covered at the hock, to attain which many birds are plucked or trimmed before being 
exhibited. Then there come what are called “too rough” limbs — by others called vulture-hocked — 
in which both thighs and legs and feet are profusely furnished, the hock-feathers more or less 
projecting. This fault also may be in various degrees, from a comparatively slight excess, as 
shown in Fig. 40, to the regular “ rough ” limb in Fig. 42. The first class will admit of being 
shown, and even a rough limb often looks well from the front, but a side view of the pigeon always 
makes it appear short-legged, however really long it may be. The long feathers are also very 
troublesome when the bird is sitting upon eggs, and often cause breakages ; and we have also 
often seen them cause the cock to stumble when courting his hen, which much disconcerts him. 
For these reasons, such rough-legged birds of both sexes should always have the long feathers 
cut short during the breeding season, which will be found to prevent numerous cases of both 
broken and barren eggs. 
There are two general remarks that apply to matching up any description of limbs. The 
first is, to avoid if possible breeding from any bird, but at all risks never to breed from two birds, 
which are short in the lower joint of the leg, from the hock to the foot. It matters not how long 
the whole limb may be, if this part be short it can never appear a good length ; and as it is the 
hardest feature to obtain in the limb, on no account must it be sacrificed in both parents. Without 
it a bird is nothing, since it never can possess the upright and graceful carriage which is the beauty 
of the Pouter, and cannot look even decent, except for a- few moments at a time, on its block, when 
its tail can hang down below the level of its feet. And the other is, never to breed from two 
birds, and if possible not even from one, which shows the fault we have already noticed as 
rather frequent in White Pouters, viz., the thigh appearing to start from the shoulder, or close to the 
crop, with all the apparent length of body behind the limb. Such birds also cannot stand erect 
except upon a block, and the farther the insertion of the thigh be from the bottom of the crop, or 
the greater “ length of waist ” the bird has, the better. It is sometimes difficult to judge of this 
point, at the moment when examining a bird for choice, on account of his refusing to “ blow,” and 
especially if he be three or four years old. In that case the bird should be taken in hand, and by 
putting the beak in the mouth, the crop is readily inflated, when the precise form can readily be 
