332 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
In fine, so long as a true-bred Scotch Fantail has tail enough we would let well alone, for such 
is our idea of a perfect bird. But such, though to be found, are rare; the more so that the smallest 
and best birds are generally bred late in the season, which we have seen has a tendency to shorten 
the feather. When this begins to fail, then we would cross, breeding back to the highest type, of 
course. The hens should be chosen of moderate size, the very smallest being rarely good breeders. 
Some small hens do breed well ; but such are rare, and it is best to take a fair-sized hen with a 
small and handsome cock. 
JUDGING FANTAILS. — A coloured or marked bird, if of equal quality, should have the 
preference over white, as more difficult to breed. For the rest we need only give our 
POINTS IN JUDGING FANTAILS. 
Head and Beak : fineness ............ 3 
Body : smallness, 3 ; shape and carriage, 9 . 12 
Motion : continual, nervous, tremulous ...... .6 
Tail : size, 6 ; shape (flatness, uprightness, and completeness of circle), 6 .12 
Flights : position of, free from tail .......... 2 
