Lo.vc a.vd Medium- faced A .v twerps. 
267 
eyes — both of which, as Mr. Ludlow truly observes, are not very certain as signs of a cross — but 
we happen to know that the extreme shortness and massive character of beak, and shortness and 
width of skull in some specimens, actually were produced in this way. No doubt such a cross 
would bring with it many faults, and would need to be controlled with the nicest judgment to get 
and to keep any good results without the accompanying evils ; still, that it has been introduced, 
and with success, we know, and mention of it cannot therefore be omitted as amongst the possible 
means towards producing Short-faced birds. 
Beside the true Short-faced Antwerp, however, there has by degrees arisen a comparatively 
uniform standard for breeding and judging pigeons which, though of the same type, have no right 
to that name. Of late years, in fact, even this class of birds has been again subdivided, and at 
many shows in the Midland Counties prizes are now regularly offered for both “ Long-faced” and 
“ Medium-faced,” as well as the true Short-faced birds. By many persons these classes are 
confounded with those known as “flying” classes ; but they are not identical. They are, it is true, 
often judged very inconsistently by people who do not understand them ; still they are strictly 
exhibition and not flying birds, with as strict a standard as the Short-faces regarding colour, and 
their proper type is becoming every day better understood. We cannot say that we “see much” in 
them, since it appears to us that all their properties are brought out more distinctly in the Short- 
faced birds ; but they have their use, as Mr. Ludlow has pointed out, even for crossing with the 
latter to keep up the size of head, and appear great favourites in some localities. 
The type of the Long-faced Show Antwerp is seen in our coloured plates. The colours are 
to be judged as in the higher type of bird ; and with regard to form of head, which should be 
judged as carefully as the other, the chief point is that the skull be “filled up,” as Mr. Ludlow 
terms it, and partake of the very same character, though with the “long face” of one inch and five- 
eighths or more. That is, there must be no stop or hollow in the forehead, and no sudden 
pinching at the nostrils ; but the profile well filled up with a full beak-wart, and the skull broad 
and round, and especially a nice width just behind the beak. This last, too, must be thick and 
massive in both mandibles; in fact, the whole head and beak such as, if only shorter, would make 
a good Short-faced bird. The same may be said of the Medium-faces, a name peculiarly indefinite 
in itself, and which sounds rather absurd to most fanciers, since these always try to obtain 
properties in their extremes, and beyond roundness and size of skull, a “ Medium-face” Antwerp 
scarcely appears to have any. 
The true Homing Pigeon we must reserve for a separate chapter. 
