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The ENGLISH POUTER.-This pigeon is one of the largest of those known in England. Its head and eyes, beak, &c., are of the ordinary common pigeon type. The body is large, and the carriage very erect; the legs are very long, in fact, compared with those of other pigeons, decidedly stilty; they should, however, be very closely set together. This is termed "long and close limbed," a great property of excellence in the Pouter. The tail and wing feathers are very long; indeed, the flights are longer, when stretched out from the tip of one wing to that of the other, than those of any other kind of pigeon, not excepting the gigantic-bodied, ordinary-shaped pigeon known as the "Giant Runt." But, though the Pouter is so large a pigeon, it is so on account of

length of limbs, neck, and feather, rather than in body proportions. Compared with the other portions of its anatomy named, the trunk of the Pouter is small and slender, especially round the girth. Its chief peculiarity, however, is to be found in the singular power it has of distending the baggy skin substance of its long neck. When in good condition, a moderate-bodied Pouter can inflate this pout, carried over the crop and across The EnglishPouter. the neck, to the size of a very large cocoa-nut, rather round than oblong in shape-a kind of feathered air balloon, almost concealing the head from view, and far exceeding the rest of the bird's bodily proportions. It is a great point that this globular extension should be as round as possible, being particularly so blended off at the base as to give to the upper part of the body a very slender waist or girthsemblance. Pouters are of all colours-whites, if without any dark feathers, however, are the only whole colours that are regarded as of standard me it; most of the other colours, such as blues, blacks, red and yellows, should have longer flight feathers, and a crescent - shaped patch of feathers on the upper part of the chest below the throat, white. This white-crescent patch of feathers and the long white flights constitute what are called "pied" markings. The Pouter is so very popular in Scotland as there to be called The King of Doos."

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The FANTAIL.-This is the most popular and generally known of Fancy Pigeons in B:itain. The pigeon with the peacock tail in

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shape familiar all, but it is a great mistake to suppose that the sole characteris tic feature of this pigeon is its tail. Of course its tail is raison d'étre, but it has several other standard essentials in order to entitle it to

its

be a pigeon of the first order. The two other abso. lutely necessary points in this pigeon are carriage and action. A well-known Scotch Fantail fancier once curtly described the difference between the common Fantail, whose peculiarity consists solely of a large widely spreading tail, and a standard specimen, in which the three beautiful characteristics of this variety of the Columbarian Genus are combined, as that existing between the most perfect marble sculptured representation of the human body and the human body in its prime condition of life and intelligence. Continuous motion of head, neck and limbs, combined with an upright carriage, with head well thrown back so as just to touch the rise of the erect tail (called the cushion) constitute a model Fantail pigeon. The head is rather fine and oval in shape, the beak long and slender; the neck is long, thin, and gracefully arched in swan-like fashion; the chest is very prominent ;the body round and rather small; the legs are short, placed rather widely apart, the claws are rather long and very elastic; indeed, in its continuous action, the Fantail seems rather to stand on the tips of its toes than on the palms of its feet. Fantails are of all colours, the whole whites being those generally seen; but whole blacks, black-barred blues, reds and yellows are now also frequently met with, besides others-white in body and coloured only on the wing coverts. The Common Fantail is a very prolific pigeon, but when the higher standard is attained some difficulty is experienced in order to ensure fecundity: for this reason Fantail breeders cut short the tails of their stock birds in the breeding season.

The JACOBIN. This is another of the strangely feather-formed races of pigeons. The Jacobin depends for its existence as a Fancy Pigeon solely on the reverse growth of its feathers

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The Jacobin.

at the back of the head, down the sides of the neck, and partly also to a rather irregular growth of its feathers at the back of the neck: further, all the feathers on these parts of its body are exceptionally long and consequently ather

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wavy and curled. The feathers on the back of the skull, just where it joins the neck, are all reversed, and rising upward fall over the crown of the head, extending right over the frontal, at times fitting so closely as actually to hide the skull from view, leaving only the tip of the beak to be seen. This reversal of back skull plumage is termed the "hood," and is the highest and most essential feature in this variety. Next comes the continuation of long reversed feathers, commencing from an unbroken connection at the two lower sides of the hood, and running down either side of the neck midway between the centre of the chest and the butts of the wings at their shoulders. This line of reversed feathers is called (the two sides combined) the "chain." The feathers constituting this chain should be so long on either side of the neck as to close and join apparently over the front of the neck and across the upper part of the chest. A "long close chain

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is the feature of second importance in the Jacobin. The third point is the "mane"; this consists of long, rather erect, feathers, projecting from the back of the neck; these should be very long, and appear to bend, those on the one side of the neck towards those on the other side, so gradually from the hood at their upper extremity, downward to the hollow of the back at the base of the neck, as to constitute an unbroken continuation of long, raised feathers, seemingly a continuation of the hood to the bottom of the neck, on to the juncture with the base of the sides of the chest, thence imperceptibly blending in with the long feathers forming the base of the chain. A pigeon possessing this apparently unbroken continuation of reversed hood, chain, and mane feathers, all of considerably abnormal length, is a grand specimen, and highly esteemed. The body of the Jacobin is small and long. It appears to be a much larger pigeon than it really is owing to its flight and tail feathers being unusually long. Its legs are rather short; its length of neck is great, but this is hidden from view owing to the abundance of feather surrounding it. There are whole white Jacobins, with beautiful silvery pearl eyes; but the usual standard colours are black, red, and yellow; all these have the skull of the head, the major flight feathers, and all the feathers on the rump and tail white.

The OWL.-While the Carrier may be regarded as the representative of most of the long-faced and beak-wattled varieties of pigeons, the Owl can most certainly be designated as the parent of all short-faced and stout-beaked breeds of pigeons. However much these may

The Owl.

differ from one another in size, shape, colour, or markings, they all strongly exhibit traces of the skull and beak characteristics of the Owl. In size the Owl is of medium proportions; the carriage is bold and erect. The chief characteristics of this very unique pigeon are centred in its head. Proportionately with the size of the body the head is decidedly large; it is very round, especially well filled in the front and on the crown of the skull; the sides of the head also display considerable fulness, and the mouth is wide. The eyes appear to be more centrally placed in the head than those of any other breed of pigeons; the beak is very short and thick, the upper mandible bending down a little over the under one; the whole body build of this pigeon is "cobby" that is, round and rather short. The neck is short and thick, widening down towards the shoulders; the chest is very prominent and is adorned with a beautiful display of ruffled feathers in its centre in rose-like shape; this is called the "frill," and is a property common to most varieties of short-beaked, round-headed pigeons. Another singular feature of the Owl is an elongated projection of skin substance extending from the base of the under mandible to about half an inch down the front of the neck-most short-faced, round-skulled pigeons of the Owl tribe possess

this singular display, which is called the " 'gullet." The shoulders are wide and well tucked in at the sides of the chest; the flight and tail feathers are wide and short, the former are carried well over the latter; the legs are moderately long, and present an agile appearance. In colour the Owl is generally blue or silvery grey, showing only two black bars across the lower part of the wing coverts and a similar bar across the extremity of the tail. There are also wholecoloured blacks, reds, yellows, as well as whites; but these, as a rule, are inferior in skull and beak properties to the blues and silvers. The Owl is a smart, active pigeon, and a good flyer and breeder. There is a small variety of pigeon said to come from the northern coast of Africa called the African Owl; but it very seldom has the remarkable roundness of skull of its larger namesake, which is also sometimes called the English Owl in order to distinguish it from the small African variety.

The TURBIT.-This pigeon bears marked points of resemblance to the Owl, and is indeed, I believe, a cross between the English and African owls. The body build and size of the Turbit is about the same as that of the English Owl,

The Turbit.

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if anything rather smaller. Its skull is very remarkable, for while the front of the forehead is high and well bulged, there is a very slight depression or flatness on the crown of the head, which should be wide and also broad at the mouth; the eyes are very prominent, and, combined with the width of the mouth, the broad skull and slight depression on the crown of the head give to the Turbit an appearance so singular as to cause it to be termed frog-headed." This. "frog-headed appearance is a great point of merit in the eyes of genuine pigeon fanciers, and is accounted the first requisite in this variety, denoting a true breed characteristic. The Turbit should be wholly white with the exception of the shoulder coverts and small scapular feathers at the upper part of the back-this marking seems best explained in being termed shields of dark plumage on either side of the body; this shield marking is of many colours, some black, others red, yellow, blue, and so forth, the blue shields being barred at the base with two black stripes, crossways. The Turbit is "cobby" in build and short in flight and tail feathers; it is rather short in legs, and has a jaunty carriage, the head being well thrown back. A long, well-shaped frill of reversed feathers adorns its chest, and like the owl it has a well-developed gullet projecting from the base of the under mandible to about half-an-inch down the front of the neck. At the back of the skull a crest of feathers like a raised peak gives to this pigeon a beautiful finishing point, and the higher and more pointed this peak is the more perfect does the Turbit appear. Like the Owl, it is a good breeder and flyer.

Besides these high-class pigeons there are many other varieties of the Columbarian race, more or less resembling those I have selected for description, some, like the Carrier and Owl, depending on skull properties, others, like the Fantail and Jacobin, remarkable for feather display.

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I would, in conclusion, give a few practical and brief notes on the management of pigeons and the pigeon loft.

THE MANAGEMENT OF PIGEONS.The generality of pigeons are hardy and easy to keep in health, while a few require special treatment; as to these, I must refer the reader to manuals written concerning them, which can be obtained from such journals as "The Bazaar," "The Feathered World,' or the "Fanciers' Gazette." The pigeon can stand cold well, and it is wonderful how it can fight against hunger, but it is very prone to the ill effects attendant on unwholesome air and improper food. To ensure a good supply of wholesome air attend well to the ventilation of the pigeon-house, especially allowing a good current of air at the top, and being very careful to prevent bad drainage. Above all guard against damp; out of doors pigeons will stand wet well, but damp walls and partitions are to them a death-trap, and result in colds, roup, canker, and all kinds of infectious disorders. In the autumn remove all nest pans and boxes from the pigeonhouse, and whitewash the walls and all nooks and corners with a lime preparation, in which a small portion of Condy's or some similar fluid has been mixed. This will not only give a healthy tone to the pigeon-house, but it will go a great way to destroy insects or grubs, which, if not checked, prove a source of much discomfort to the young pigeons during the succeeding breeding season; in fact, it is a good plan to sprinkle a little disinfectant powder in the nest pans and boxes, and, after a pair of youngsters have come off a nest, destroy the latter completely, allowing the parent birds to construct a new one with fresh materials. The supply of clean water, both for drinking and bathing, must be rigidly seen to. Never allow the pigeons in confinement to drink foul or soiled water. Place in some corner of the aviary or pigeon loft a good supply of mortar grit, in which a small amount of salt should

DISEASES OF

CATS.

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always be mixed. An occasional handful of bread crumbs and salt is much appreciated by the birds. I now come to the staple food. great deal of the success or failure in breeding pigeons in confinement depends on the supply both as to the quality and quantity of food given to them. It has always been my habit to feed pigeons twice daily, and that by throwing the food on the ground rather than placing it in dishes, pans, and so forth, and always to allow the birds to have just as much as they can without inconvenience consume at one meal, after which nothing should be allowed to lie about till the next lot of food is thrown down to them. Over-feeding does the birds much harm, while just keeping them a little hungry does them good. Of course, it must be borne in mind that when pigeons are rearing young they require a larger supply of food than when not so doing. As to the kinds of food most suitable; when not breeding, the best diet for all varieties is old hard maple or grey peas, and plump barley The larger varieties, such as Carriers, Antwerps, Dragoons, and Pouters, may have a liberal mixture of good old tick beans at the evening meal. The small varieties, such as Short-faced Tumblers, African Owls, Turbits, and sundry Toy kinds, should have old tares mixed with the peas and barley. During the breeding season continue this diet, adding proportionately tares, sound wheat, and dari-that is, about two-thirds of the latter to a third of the former. I have known most satisfactory results to attend the whole breeding season by giving solely a mixture of two-thirds of peas and tares to one-third of plump barley and clean dari, not forgetting a supply of salt and mortar mixed with the dried crumbs. When pigeons are moulting, a very small supply of hemp seed after the evening meal is of great assistance to them in casting off the old feathers and growing the new ones.

**The illustrations in this article are from blocks supplied by the courtesy of the proprietors of" The Feathered World."

DOMESTIC ANIMALS. By W. B. TEGETMEIER.

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Distemper.-Cats, badly fed, are subject to this very distressing febrile disease, which is largely propagated by cat shows. For this there is practically no remedy. The animal should be kept perfectly quiet. In severe cases two or three grains of chlorate of potash may be given, in milk, daily, and the strength of the animal supported by strong beef-tea.

Discharge from the Ears.-Many cats, especially those of the long-eared variety, are subject to an offensive discharge from the ears. This depends on a disease of the bones of the internal ear. The cats are not unfrequently deaf. The remedies, to be of any effect, must be syringed into the ear, and the cases may be regarded as hopeless.

Parasites. Fleas.-The fleas with which cats. are infested are not bred in the fur of the animal, but in its bedding and other surroundings. By keeping these clean and brushing the animal with a hard brush, especially if the latter has been in the slightest degree scented with benzoline, they may be got rid of.

Fits.--Cats, especially the long-haired varieties, are very subject to epileptic fits. In these they dash about furiously, especially on any effort being made to control them. They should be allowed to remain perfectly quiet and undisturbed in any

place in which they have taken refuge. A grain of bromide of potassium given daily, in milk, has been found to produce considerable alleviation.

Worms in Cats.-Cats that are badly fed are liable to the presence of intestinal worms. These can readily be got rid of by the administration of one to two or three grains of santonine, according to the size of the animal,

DOGS.

Feeding. The greater proportion of the diseases of dogs arise from errors of feeding. Pet dogs are fed at every meal of the owners: they become diseased, over-fat, asthmatic, and readily contract infectious diseases, such as mange, distemper, &c. They should be fed but once, or at the extreme, twice a day, morning and evening, and no more should be given than would be eaten with great avidity. House dogs do well on bread and biscuit with milk, cooked vegetables being given, and an occasional bone or two. Sporting and out-door dogs require fresh flesh, which is superior to such food as gravy or dried meat preparations. Puppies require milk; they should be allowed to take that of the mother until at least six weeks old, soft food being gradually given.

Distemper.-Distemper usually occurs in young dogs, is communicated from one diseased animal to another, but may be carried by the clothes of the attendant, or by sending dogs in infected railway boxes. It is widely spread by dog shows. The symptoms are great disinclination to move, loss of appetite, feverishness, and shivering. As in other contagious febrile diseases, medicine is of no avail, good nursing being the best remedy. The dog should be kept in a well-ventilated, warm place, scrupulous cleanliness should be attended to, no solid food given, only milk and strong beef-tea, which may be thickened with flour, and a little chopped raw meat may be given when the animal is convalescent.

Red Mange. The disease known as red mange is in reality a form of eczema; it is not contagious or caused by parasites, but is an inflammatory disease of the skin, accompanied by loss of hair. It is generally due to some disorder of the digestive organs, and can be remedied by attending to them.

Fits. Dogs are subject to epileptic fits, falling down and lying stupefied, or with convulsed limbs. There is no actual cure, but, as fits often arise from over-feeding, the diet of the dog should be reduced. If from irritation of the brain, four grains of bromide of potassium to every twenty pounds the dog weighs may be given twice a day. During the fit the dog shonld be allowed to remain undisturbed. Fits have no relation to rabies, from which they are totally distinct.

Mange. Mange is caused by a minute parasitic insect, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can readily be transferred from one animal to another, so that one mangy dog will infect a whole kennel. The mange insect is very much like the itch insect in the human subject, burrowing in the skin, causing the hair to fall off, and reducing the animal to a terrible condition. In treatment the dog should be first scrubbed with strong carbolic soap; the best application is ointment of green iodide of mercury, one dram to an ounce of ointment, but the dog must be muzzled to prevent him licking himself, as the remedy is strongly medicinal. Severe cases, of long standing, will require more than a month to cure. The litter of the kennel should be frequently changed, and the interior washed with strong carbolic dog soap.

CAGE BIRDS.

FEATHER EATING is due to the irritability induced by confinement, and can only be cured by giving room to fly and take active exercise. Parrots that pluck their feathers are generally cured when put in a large aviary and given no flesh to eat.

FITS are due to undue flow of blood to the brain; their recurrence may often be prevented by less stimulating food.

ASTHMA is caused by placing birds accustomed to heated rooms in a draught of cold air: practically there is no cure.

DISEASED FEET are to be prevented by absolute cleanliness of perches and cages, and the keeping the claws cut so as not to catch in the wires.

POULTRY.

Rour is a contagious disease which should be stamped out by killing and burning every affected fowl.

ENTERITIS or POULTRY FARM DISEASE, SO termed from being present in many overcrowded poultry runs, is incurable. The disease is propagated by the dung of the infected birds tainting the soil, and the only remedy is the killing of the diseased fowls, and the removal of those that are not attacked to unaffected localities and pure soil.

PHEASANT disease is identical with fowl enteritis, and occurs in localities in which poultry farms have been attempted to be established.

DISEASES in farm-yard or useful poultry are most advantageously treated by being stamped out, and the bodies of the diseased fowls burnt after they are killed.

HORSES.

INFLAMED EYES usually arise from blows, or from small objects which may remain in the outer corner of the eye; the latter should be removed, and the eye bathed with a lotion of Goulard extract, a drachm to a pint of water, followed if the inflammation is severe with mash diet and gentle physic.

LAMPAS is a swelling of the bars of the palate : in severe cases the bars may be cut across with a sharp penknife, but a few mashes with alternative medicine is generally sufficient to effect a cure.

SWELLED LEGS may in ordinary cases be reduced by equable exercise and bandaging.

GREASE, if the cracks are slight, can be cured by astringent lotion of half an ounce of alum to a pint of water.

MANGE is usually the result of contagion, and is effectually treated with one ounce of flowers of sulphur rubbed up with an ounce of train oil and a quarter of an ounce of paraffin oil, to be well rubbed in with a hard brush; this should be applied every day for a week, and then washed off with soap and water. The application to be renewed till cure is effected, when the curry comb and brushes used should be burnt, and the whole stable, harness, &c., washed with chloride of lime or carbolic acid wash; during the treatment, a purging ball should be given as required.

WOUNDS AND ABRASIONS OF THE MOUTH.These are generally caused by sharp or rusty bits, and may be washed with an ounce of alum in a pint and a half of water.

COLD CATARRH.-Warmth, warm clothing, and warm mashes may be used, but if the disease passes into bronchitis or inflammation of the lungs, professional assistance is indispensable.

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British subjects visiting the Continent are recommended to provide themselves with Passports, even although in some countries it is not now obligatory to do so. As a means of identification they are often useful, particularly if letters have to be claimed at a poste restante. They also often secure admission to public buildings when otherwise closed to the general public, and may serve to protect the holder against the ignorance and caprice of local officials, who are sometimes apt to make themselves officiously disagreeable. The following are the

Foreign Office Regulations respecting
Passports:-

Applications for Foreign Office Passports must be made on a form supplied on application to The Passport Department, Foreign Office, London.

The charge for a Passport, whatever number of persons may be named in it, is 2s., a postal order for which sum (not stamps) must accompany the application if made by post. (If an agent is employed there is usually an additional agency fee of is. 6d.)

Passports are granted only to British-born subjects and their wives or widows, or to naturalised Foreigners.

Passports are issued at the Foreign Office between 1 and 4 on the day following that on which the application for the Passport has been received at the Foreign Office (except Sundays and Bank Holidays).

A Passport cannot be issued on behalf of a person already abroad; such person, being a British-born subject, should apply for one to the nearest British Mission or Consulate.

The bearer of every Passport should sign it clearly as soon as he receives it; as otherwise the visa may be refused, or the validity of the Passport questioned abroad.

Passports are granted to such persons as are known to the Secretary of State, or recommended to him by some person who is known to him; or upon the production of a Certificate of Identity and Recommendation signed by any Banker in the Kingdom, or by any Mayor, Magistrate, J.P., Minister of Religion, Physician, Surgeon, Solicitor, or Notary, resident in the Kingdom. The applicant's Certificate of Birth may also be required, in addition to the Certificate of Identity and Recommendation.

PASSPORTS.

Travellers who intend to visit the Russiał Empire, the Turkish Dominions, the Kingdon of Roumania, Persia or Hayti, must not quit England without having had their Passports visés at the Consulate-General of the country to be visited. Travellers about to proceed to any other country need not obtain the visa of the Dipbmatic or Consular Agents of such country, except as an additional precaution, which is recommended in the cases of Passports of old date.

Although British subjects are now permitted to enter most foreign countries without Passports, and the rules about Passports have been generally relaxed, nevertheless, British subjects travelling abroad are recommended to provide themselves with Passports, for even in those countries where they are no longer obligatory, they are found to be convenient, as offering a ready means of identification. For residence in Germany or Switzerland a Passport should be obtained.

The following are the addresses of the various Consuls, &c., in London, and fee for visas. An asterisk indicates that a Passport is more or less necessary:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.-12, St. Helen's Place, E.C. Visa unnecessary.

BELGIUM.-130, London Wall, E.C. Visa

2s. 6d.

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4s. 6d.

Visa

*ROUMANIA.-68, Basinghall Street. Free. *RUSSIA.-17, Great Winchester Street. 4s. 10d. SPAIN. 20, Mark Lane. Visa 9s. 8d. SWEDEN AND NORWAY.-24, Great Winchester Street. Visa 4s. 6d.

SWITZERLAND.-52, Lexham Gardens. Visa 25. *TURKEY.-29, Mincing Lane. Visa 4s.

TRAVELLERS' LUGGAGE-CUSTOMS REGULATIONS.

In France, Belgium, and practically in all European countries, no merchandise is allowed to enter free of duty. In the case of travellers, the custom-house officials have a certain latitude allowed them, and, in the absence of any suspicious circumstances, the question Have you anything to declare?" if answered in the negative usually suffices to enable the traveller to pass with quite nominal examination.

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The English Customs authorities require declaration of all articles liable to duty on importation, but passengers are usually allowed to bring in, free, small quantities of spirits or tobacco, not exceeding half a pint of spirits or half a pound of tobacco, or if from Channel Islands one-half of these quantities.

The following is given in Bradshaw's Guide as a list of what travellers are allowed to carry free :

Cut Tobacco.--As a rule enough for the railway journey, say an opened packet. The duty on cut tobacco in France is about 9s. and in Italy about 75. 6d. per lb.; in Germany, Switzerland, and

Austria, only a few pence, but the traveller is liable to be charged dealer's license, which is heavy.

Cigars. In France or Germany, enough for the railway journey. In Spain, only a few, not more than 20. In Italy, a cigar-case full. In Portugal one opened box.

Spirits or Wine.-A small bottle, which must have been uncorked and used from. In Italy, under two gills.

Patent Medicines. What is needed for the journey; in France, subject to duty; in Germany free, excepting pills. In Portugal, only one bottle free, rest pays duty.

Sporting Guns and Rifles. -Must pay duty according to weight in Germany, France, Portugal and Belgium. For Spain, a permit should be obtained from the Spanish Consul before starting from England. Military rifles as

a rule are forbidden.

Dogs. Free in most countries. In Portugal, they pay an ad valorem duty. In Norway the introduction of dogs is absolutely forbidden.

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