The “ Birmingham ” Dragoon. 
205 
I would rather not have expressed them, but if not generally known they should be, in order to 
show the reason why the coarse imperfect kind have monopolised the place and carried off prizes 
over the true and perfect variety, and why they have been tolerated so long. 
“I will now enumerate the points of excellence of a perfect Dragoon of the ‘Birmingham’ 
type. First, then, the bird should be of medium size — not large, nor yet actually small, but the 
‘happy medium.’ Either extreme is dangerous, for if largeness be regarded as a point of merit 
the more bulky and ponderous specimens must have the preference ; whereas, most of the larger 
birds will be found of an ungraceful, unwieldly, clumsy character, and a rough and coarse appear- 
ance all over, in accord with their bulky frames, and quite out of keeping with the chief features 
of the breed. Moreover, largeness is a conspicuous feature of the Carrier, and in proportion with 
his massive head and beak, but quite out of order with all the points of a Dragoon. Again, the 
Dragoon, although chiefly esteemed now as a show bird, was once specially valued as the fastest 
and surest English flier, and still (even in his more perfect figure) retains the flying and homing 
faculty to a large extent. His entire configuration shows this ; his points were chosen as indicative 
of his aerial capabilities, and to some extent this must be our guide at the present day. Of 
course, as a show bird, we must judge by appearances almost entirely, but remembering at the 
same time that we are judging not merely a pretty toy, but looking for points which are indicative 
of intelligence, boldness, and endurance in combination, with a neat and symmetrical configuration ; 
not with the ‘fineness’ of the Carrier (which is understood to mean largeness), but ‘fineness’ in its 
literal sense — refined and elegant. Further, as the Dragoon is a flier, the larger the bird the less 
capable is he of flying, especially the nearer he approaches the shape and bigness of the Carrier ; 
for (as most fanciers know) such ponderous birds are often puzzled to fly from the front to the 
rear of their own domicile, much less perform any feats of flying. Largeness, then, being one of 
the attributes of the Carrier, the line of distinction between them and the Dragoons should be 
clearly discernible, so as to be conspicuous and unmistakable ; but let it be understood, on the 
other hand, that smallness must not be fixed as a feature of excellence ; for in that idea there is 
again danger ahead, and amongst the train of evils arising from it would be that breeders would 
have recourse to close-breeding, or winter-breeding, in order to keep them small, and thus raise 
mere pigmy Carriers, or puny offspring of a weak and degenerated character, and by such means 
lose that vigour, smartness, and boldness which all good Dragoons should possess. The medium 
size, then, is far preferable — a neat, compact, and elegant form, within which is more often 
embodied a vigorous constitution — since largeness does not always constitute strength or vigour, 
nor is smallness always indicative of physical weakness ; but in the middle size we are, all through 
creation, more likely to obtain quality and vigour in perfect combination. 
“ The Dragoon should be of a neat, plump body, compact form, erect carriage, graceful 
movements, and of a wild and nervous temperament. Although in pose the bird should be erect, 
it is not that uprightness of body, straightness and outstretched appearance of the Carrier, but 
presenting an outline composed of more graceful curves ; erect in body, yet apparently ever ready 
for a hasty departure. 
“ The beak should be long, strong, close-fitting, and straight ; the distance from the centre of 
eye to tip of beak should measure, say if inches; the mouth-line, or division of beak, running in 
an exact straight line (if it were continued) through the centre of eye. The lower mandible should 
be of good thickness, and not — as is often the case — hollowed out ; nor should there be any spiky 
or spindle character observable, but a nice, thick, evenly-shaped beak. The warty substance 
thereon should not be of the too common, large, rough, irregular ‘cauliflower,’ or ‘walnut’ 
character, but small, and of an elongated shape, well packed upon the upper beak, and with a fair 
