206 
The I llustrated Book of Pigeons. 
and equal division line distinctly apparent down its centre. This beak-wart must not overhang 
the sides, nor be lop-sided, rough, or irregular. Of course certain allowances must be made for the 
sex, the cock birds having an extra supply of wart in accordance with their general masculine 
appearance ; still the centre division of wart, in continuation of frontal bone, should be clear and 
apparent. Certain wrinklings do always appear upon the male, and with age upon both genders ; 
still the original formation is preserved — the wrinkles, or puckers, should all converge to the same 
point upon the top and fore part of beak. The rough, lumpy, coarse, cauliflower excrescence is a 
grand feature of a Carrier, and an inherent quality in them, but is a positive disfigurement and blemish 
upon a Dragoon. Such a superfluity is both an eyesore to their appearance, and an impediment 
to their vision, and is not at all in conformity or unison with the graceful contour of the breed. 
“The skull should appear narrow; the top of head is not actually flat, but rather low and 
elongated, which gives somewhat of that appearance ; the occiput, or hind part of skull, should be 
prominent, as it adds to the apparent length and straightness of the head, without really increasing 
it ; moreover, it is a phrenological or cranial development indicative of a large brain, and, as a 
consequence, a greater probability of possessing the homing faculty, and which all flying pigeons 
more or less should possess. 
“The eye itself should be large and prominent, and in Blues of a deep rich orange colour, with 
an outer circle of deep and bright blood-red colour ; the fleshy lash around the eye should be 
small, circular, and of a pale powdery white colour. 
“ The neck should be long and slender. The upper part, being very narrow, adds greatly to 
the refinement of shape. There should be no loose or flabby skin upon or hanging from the lower 
jaw, but the neck graduating nicely at its upper part into a clear curve, no matter what the position 
of the bird may be. The entire neck is more acutely tapered and rounder than that of the Carrien 
and does not fall so straight, nor in such parallel lines, but descends more acutely from narrow 
throat to broad breast. The upper part of back and shoulders should be broad, as denoting the 
greatest strength where the actual motive power is most needed ; the shoulders standing well out 
from the body, which is rather tapering. The flights and tail rather short; the former of a sharp 
pointed character, carried well up, and the tail also well raised from the ground. The under parts, 
from hocks to vent, should be as tight up and as spare as possible, both of flesh and feather. The 
legs should be long, and are generally at a good angle from thigh to fore part, showing an easy 
and elastic pose , the thigh being prominent, and the feet of good size. 
“ There are now nine recognised varieties of Dragoons, viz., Blues, Silvers (brown bars), Silvers 
(black bars), Red, Yellow, Grizzle, Chequer, White, and Black. These last named have of late 
been admitted into the category, and I am at a loss to know what our friends of the ‘ London 
fancy ’are going to do with them. I rather imagine that they will have either to ignore them 
altogether, or else chisel out and sand-paper down their model to our limits; in' the misty dis- 
tance I cannot discern another remedy ; for, what with the universally admitted big Carrier, and 
their big Dragoon, I fear they will get their standard in a big muddle, for the fancy at large can 
never suffer colour alone to constitute a breed, and therefore Black Dragoons cannot be reasonably 
shut out of the list simply because they are black. How, then, will these two sorts of big black- 
warted, long-faced pigeons bear comparison ? That remains to be seen. So I proceed with our 
midland standard, which, so far as I am individually concerned, will remain permanent and un- 
alterable. 
“ Blues should be of a good sound colour throughout their plumage, back, bell)-, breast, and 
thigh — all of a nice uniform colour — without showing any traces of the feather markings thereon ; but 
the entire body, composed as it is of smaller feathers than most pigeons, should look hard, feel tight 
