The Illustrated Book of Pigeons. 
Beak, short and thick, and the wart thereon of moderate size. Body, long and low, feathers loose 
and very long, and inclining downwards. Legs short, and feet small. The flights and tail 
extremely long ; in fact, my hen (as represented in plate) measured in flights the enormous length 
of thirty-two and a half inches from tip to tip of outstretched wings ; the tail primaries measuring 
seven inches and seven-eighths from quill tip to fibre point. The wings are generally crossed over 
the tail, and although of such extraordinary length are carried well up, and not mere trailing 
appendages, when the birds are in health. The most conspicuous features of the breed are the 
elongated or drawn-out body, and the extraordinary growth of all the body-feathers, and excessive 
length of flights and tail. 
“Now, although the Swift appears a large bird, he is much smaller in actual body-weight 
than he seems to be, the superabundance of feather with which he is clothed creates a wrong 
impression as to the size. 
“ Although they are termed ‘ Swifts,’ they are very slow birds in their movements, and, in 
flight, their great wings are rather an impediment than, as might be supposed, an additional aid to 
either speed or even easy aerial locomotion ; but although the feathers are long, they are loose 
and open, thin and weak in the quill, and therefore it is with great difficulty they rise, and almost 
as much trouble to sustain a fly of short distance or duration, even when fairly in mid-air, the 
atmosphere acting upon their pliable feathers as ribbons in a breeze, so as to greatly thwart their 
progress. Besides my own birds, I have had an opportunity of witnessing several pairs of this 
kind at large, and, without exception, the same awkward attempt at flying was apparent in all. 
I have seen crosses with the Antwerp (Swift and Antwerp) which have fairly well sustained a few 
circles with a flight of Antwerps, but invariably seemed labouring, as it were, in the rear of the 
circling group. 
“Swifts are hardy birds, will stand rough usage, thrive in close quarters, and live on any 
grain, no special food being needed to supply their wants ; but, to use the term of a fancier 
who was pretty familiar with them, ‘they are as hard as nails,’ and judging from all which 
have come under my notice, they seem to be birds of unusual longevity. 
BURMESE, OR FLORENTINES. 
“These are terms by which a very singular kind of pigeon has become known in England; 
but I think I shall be able to show that they are simply an old variety under new titles. 
I will, however, first describe them as above, and then point out the strong resemblance to 
the original to which I refer, and from which I believe ‘ Burmese,’ or ‘ Florentines,’ to have sprung, 
if not exactly identical with them. Burmese, or Florentines, then, are large birds (see illustra- 
tion), runtish head, crooked or S shaped neck, very full and prominent breast, short back, stick- 
up or cock-tail, which should be very short and seemingly cut off, perfectly upright, close-fitting, 
and not outspread; and in the males, when salacious, the neck and tail come in contact; the 
flights are short, the tips pointing upwards and meeting together immediately behind the tail 
render support to that erect appendage ; the legs are long ; and the feet (for so large a bird) 
rather small, the bearing ofttimes being entirely upon the toes, as seen in ‘ Fans ’ and Short- 
faced Tumblers. 
“The carriage and form of these birds is very peculiar under ordinary circumstances, but 
when the male is following his mate to nest the general contour of the pair is most strange, for, 
with upturned breasts, acutely-curved neck, and erect tail, they stride along with an elastic tread 
and jerking motion, by reason of which head and tail often come in contact, and thus, upon the 
whole, present a remarkable appearance, trotting along by the hour like ducks to a pond, and 
