FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
637 
COLUMBA GUTTUBOSA ANGLIC AN A. 
The English Pouter. 
This pigeon, which was first bred in England, and is 
therefore called the English Pouter, is originally a mixed 
breed between a Horseman and a Cropper. Experience 
teaches us it will add a wonderful beauty to this bird, and 
raise in it the five following properties : 
1. Length of body ; 
2. Length of legs ; 
3. Neatness of crop; 
4. Slenderness of girt; 
5. Beauty in feather. 
1. As to the length of body, the longer they are from the 
apex of the beak to the end of the tail, the more the pigeon 
is esteemed. I have seen one that measured this way near 
twenty inches, although seventeen or eighteen is reckoned a 
very good length. 
2. The length of the leg is the next thing to be examined 
in a Pouter, i. e., from the upper joint of the thigh in sight 
to the end of the toe-nail ; and in this property some pigeons 
have been very considerable, wanting a mere trifle of seven 
inches, yet the bird that produces six and a half or three- 
quarters must be allowed to be a very good one. 
3. The next property to be considered is the crop, which 
ought to be large and round, especially towards the beak, 
filling behind the neck, so as to cover the shoulders and tie 
neatly off at the shoulders, and form a perfect globe. 
4. The smaller the girt the better, because by this means 
a contrast of beautiful shape is given to the whole bird. 
(To be continued.) 
I J E pi S. 
Irr order to make our “Item” column as interesting as possible, we 
would be obliged to our readers for contributions of original matter, how- 
ever short — yes, let it be condensed and to the point, in a variety of 
style — facts and fancies interesting to fanciers. 
If you see a policeman aim at a dog, try to get near- 
the dog. 
U@“An Alabama editor winds up an editorial on the 
corn crop with the remark : “ We have on exhibition in our 
sanctum a pair of magnificent ears.” 
A Kansas farmer solemnly declares that a grasshop- 
per sat on the gate-post and threateningly asked : “ William 
Bryant, where in thunder is the balance of that cold meat.” 
A St. Johnville, Vermont, man on his dying bed 
remembered that his wife was smoking some hams, and he 
said, “Now, Henrietta, don’t go snuffing around and for- 
get those hams.” 
The Alaska fur trade is not a bad thing for the 
United States Treasury. The Government receives $262,- 
000 direct. The skins of the seals are taken to London, 
cured, and brought to the United States, and the duties paid 
amount to $200,000 more. 
Jg@“ A goat is more inexpensive than agreeable, and will 
live on almost anything ; but a eapricornus in Buffalo was 
an exception to the rule, the other day, in regard to inex- 
pensiveness. It got into the house and had a regular blow 
out on a Panama hat, three linen shirt bosoms, a box of 
cigars, and a part of a partially constructed new bonnet. 
An exchange, ridiculing the ridiculous county fairs, 
which make no effort at good shows, says that the Clearfield 
fair consisted of a calf, a goose, and a pumpkin. It rained 
so hard the first night that the goose swam off, the calf 
broke loose and ate the pumpkin, and a thief prowling 
around stole the calf, and that ended the fair. 
Soft Eggs. — A n English writer says that soft eggs 
are generally caused by over-feeding the hens, and the 
remedy is then self-evident. It may, however, occur from 
want of lime, which must, of course, be supplied, the best 
form being calcined and pounded oyster shells. Occasion- 
ally it is occasioned by fright, from being driven about, 
but in that case will right itself in a day or two. If perfect 
eggs are habitually dropped on the ground, the proprietor 
should see whether the nests do not need purifying. 
jggg}“ It is asserted that five hundred pounds of frogs are 
consumed daily, in New York. They are caught chiefly 
in Canada, and are sent here in salt sacks, laid flat on the 
floors of freight cars, and containing each about a hundred 
frogs. An average of five per cent, die in the train. Each 
female frog is said to spawn over a thousand at a time, but 
not more than fifty of that number live to attain full growth. 
They are often eaten by their own species, or by birds and 
snakes. They are usually taken with the hook, but bite at 
it only when their heads are above water. A bait is often 
unnecessary. The frog catcher frequently brings his hook 
under the jaw of the frog without creating alarm, and jerks 
its point into the flesh. He is then easily lifted into the boat. 
j§gp“ On some of the East India Islands, where so many 
queer things grow, is found a flower that measures a full 
yard across ; yet it has only a cup-like centre, and five 
broad, thick, fleshy petals. Seen from a distance, through 
the dark-green leaves of the vines among which it grows, the 
rich wine-tint of the flower, flecked with spots of a lighter 
shade, is said to impart a warmth and brilliancy of color to 
the whole surrounding scene ; but, the nearer the observer 
comes — all eagerness to see more closely so wonderful a 
flower — the less does he like it. Not that the color is less' 
beautiful ; but who cares for beauty in human beings, when 
its possessor is malicious, disdainful, or untruthful ; and 
who cares for beauty in a flower, when the odor is disagree- 
able? So, notwithstanding its proudly brilliant color and 
its great size, the Rafflesia Arnoldia will never be admired, 
for we are told that its “odor is intolerable, polluting the 
atmosphere for many feet around .” — Saint Nicholas. 
A farmer’s boy, in Ohio, observing a small flock of 
quails in his father’s cornfield, resolved to watch their mo- 
tions. They pursued a very regular course in their foraging, 
commencing on one side of the field, taking about five rows, 
and following them uniformly to the opposite end, return- 
ing in the same manner over the next five rows. They 
continued in this course until they had explored the greater 
portion of the field. The lad, suspicious that they were 
pulling up the corn, fired into the flock, killing one of them, 
and then proceded to examine the ground. In the whole 
space over which they had travelled he found hut one stalk 
of corn disturbed. This was nearly scratched out of the 
ground, but the kernel still adhered to it. In the craw of 
the quail he found one cut-worm, twenty-one striped vine 
bugs, and one hundred chinch-bugs, but not a single kernel 
of corn. 
