PIGEONS, 
—«®a 
89 f 
flesh round the eye is very thick and broad, it shows that 
the pigeon will prove a good breeder, and will rear fine 
young ones. 
The properties attributed to the carrier, and prized by 
fanciers, are three in the head, three in the eye, three in the 
wattle, and three in the beak. The properties of the head con¬ 
sist in its being flat, long, and straight; for instance, if the head 
be very long, narrow, and flat, it is reckoned, in shape, perfect; 
if the contrary, it is termed a “ barrel head.” The properties 
of the wattle of the eye are its breadth and circular, uni¬ 
form shape: for, if one part appear to be more scanty than 
another, it is termed 44 pinch-eyed;” and is of comparative little 
value; while, if it be full, even, and free from irregularities, it 
forms a 44 rose eye,” and is highly prized. The wattle should 
be wide across the beak, short from the head to the point of 
the beak, and lean a little forward from the head; as the bird 
is said to be 44 peg-wattled” if it lie flat. The beak must be 
black, long, straight, and thick; if it be an inch and a half in 
length, it is considered a long beak, but it must never measure 
less than an inch and a quarter; if the beak be crooked, (hook- 
beaked,) or spindle-beaked, the value of the bird is much 
diminished. This variety, in general, is either dun or black in 
color, although white, blue-splashed, and pied specimens 
occur; the black and dun birds are usually the most perfect 
in their properties; but as the blues, whites, and pieds are 
very rare, even inferior birds of these colors are of consider- 
value. 
THE HORSEMAN. 
Many fanciers suppose the “horseman” to be a cross 
breed, either between a tumbler and a carrier, or a pouter 
and a carrier, and then again bred from a carrier. In 
shape, it resembles the carrier, but it is smaller in all its 
proportions; its body being less, its neck shorter and the 
fungous-looking flesh round its eyes not exuberant, so that 
there is a greater space between the wattle on the beak, than 
hat round the eye. 
