4.62
" from tip to tip of wing 26.75
" of folded wing 9.25

Beak.--Length from tip of beak to feathered base .77
" Thickness, measured vertically at further end of nostrils .23
" Breadth, measured at same place .16

Feet.--Length from end of middle toe (without claw) to distal
end of tibia 2.77
" Length from end of middle toe to end of hind toe
(without claws) 2.02

Weight 141/4 ounces.

[280] This drawing was made from a dead bird. The six following figures
were drawn with great care by Mr. Luke Wells from living birds selected by
Mr. Tegetmeier. It may be confidently asserted that the characters of the
six breeds which have been figured are not in the least exaggerated.

[281] 'Das Ganze der Taubenzucht:' Weimar, 1837, pl. 11 and 12.

[282] Boitard and Corbie, 'Les Pigeons,' &c., p. 177, pl. 6.

[283] 'Die Taubenzucht,' Ulm, 1824, s. 42.

[284] This treatise was written by Sayzid Mohammed Musari, who died in
1770: I owe to the great kindness of Sir W. Elliot a translation of this
curious treatise.

[285] 'Poultry Chronicle,' vol. ii. p. 573.

[286] 'Annals and Mag. of Nat. History,' vol. xix., 1847, p. 105.

[287] This gland occurs in most birds; but Nitzsch (in his
'Pterylographie,' 1840, p. 55) states that it is absent in two species of
Columba, in several species of Psittacus, in some species of Otis, and in
most or all birds of the Ostrich family. It can hardly be an accidental
coincidence that the two species of Columba, which are destitute of an
oil-gland, have an unusual number of tail-feathers, namely 16, and in this
respect resemble Fantails.

[288] _See_ the two excellent editions published by Mr. J. M. Eaton in 1852
and 1858, entitled 'A Treatise on Fancy Pigeons.'

[289] English translation, by F. Gladwin, 4th edition, vol. i. The habit of
the Lotan is also described in the Persian treatise before alluded to,
published about 100 years ago: at this date the Lotans were generally white
and crested as at present. Mr. Blyth describes these birds in 'Annals and
Mag. of Nat. Hist.,' vol. xiv., 1847, p. 104: he says that they "may be
seen at any of the Calcutta bird-dealers."

[290] 'Journal of Horticulture,' Oct. 22, 186