214 
The Illustrated Book of Pigf.oxs. 
black also, adding much to the smartness of the bird. The iris of the eye is properly a dark red, 
but if the beak and eye-wattle be light the iris will be rather of a yellowish or orange cast, which 
detracts much from the bold and wild look, and show the light blood ; whereas the real dark eye 
is generally accompanied by a darker blue and a good sound-coloured rump. The size of the eve- 
wattle should never be larger than a sixpence in cocks, and rather less in hens. It really looks 
less on the living bird, the large bold eye occupying so much of the centre as to diminish the 
apparent magnitude. 
The neck appears in a young bird about two-thirds the length of that of a Carrier, but when 
older it scarcely appears more than half. The shape is also quite different, the Carrier being as 
thin as possible down to the very shoulders, while the neck of the Dragoon is rapidly and gradually 
tapered from being broad at the shoulders to the throat. And this brings us to the gullet. Several 
very good fanciers prefer a large gullet, and others not. It is a point often found with good-beaked 
birds of mature age, and was bred for by old fanciers, who considered this as another point in which 
the bird should differ from the Carrier. When so bred, it is a true point of a true bird : but for 
our part, as it tends to prevent a bird being straight-faced, and spoils the beauty of the best 
Carrier otherwise that ever lived, we cannot see how it improves a Dragoon ; and this is the only 
point on which we are inclined to disagree with the old fanciers. As, however, they certainly did 
breed for it, we will not here pronounce either way, but simply state our own preference for a nice 
clean run under the throat. True, the gullet should be what a Carrier fancier would term full, 
or at least rather full, as comparison of the respective heads will show ; still, it should in our 
opinion not be so full as to spoil a nice dean curve from beak to breast, much less show any 
loose skin. 
In regard to the carriage of the wings, the butts should stand sharply out at the shoulders, 
projecting as much as possible ; and in this property only does the Dragoon resemble the Carrier 
pigeon, and should be as alike as possible, the projecting shoulders being highly necessary to give 
the appearance of wide chest and graceful carriage which is desired. As to length of flights, how- 
ever, this is usually less, only reaching to within about an inch and a half of the end of the tail, 
as stated by Mr. Graham, whereas the flights of the Carrier reach within half an inch. In some 
very early-bred birds the flights will be rather longer, and in many good birds this difference is 
not seen owing to the tail being shorter. In birds with good beaks, if the flights be opened 
there will be found to be great strength in the quills ; but if thin-beaked not : so that, as 
before observed, .the beak alone is a good test of the strength of the bird. The length of tail 
and flight feathers greatly depends on the time of year the bird is bred, the parents, and the 
place where it is kept ; as cleanliness and a good flight will increase the length of feather. But it 
is always shorter than in Carriers, and no Dragoon such as we describe will ever be found of such 
length, or at least such apparent length of flight and tail as the Carrier. There is another 
difference : the flights of the Carrier, when of the proper length, are often seen crossed over the 
tail at the ends of the two longest flight feathers, whereas the flights of the Dragoon lie so close to 
each side of the tail as almost to make the whole look as if carved out of one solid piece, especially 
when in high condition. 
The legs ought to appear thick compared with the size of the bird, and should be set well 
back so as to allow a good upright carriage of body. It is only when birds are well put together 
in this way that the back can present the slightly hollow appearance between the shoulders which 
gives so much smartness to a pigeon, one whose legs are too far forward almost always being 
clumsy and hog-backed. The length of leg from foot to hock should be rather long, we prefer not 
less than one and a half inches, but the thigh should be short, or rather appear short, being thus 
