. Common . . . . . . . . .
. . Tumbler . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Java . . . . . . . . . . .
Fantail . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. Turbit . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . Trumpeter. . . . . . .
. . . . . Laugher. . . . . .
. . . . . English Frill-back. . . . .
. . . . . Nun. . . .
. . . . . Spot. . .
. . . . . Swallow. .
. . . . . Dove-cot pigeon.
Fantail. African Short- Indian Jacobin.
Owl. faced Frill-
Tumbler. back.

{137}

GROUP I.

This group includes a single race, that of the Pouters. If the most
strongly marked sub-race be taken, namely, the Improved English Pouter,
this is perhaps the most distinct of all domesticated pigeons.

[Illustration: Fig. 18.--English Pouter.]

RACE I.--POUTER PIGEONS. (Kropf-tauben, German. Grosses-gorges, or boulans,
French.)

_Oesophagus of great size, barely separated from the crop, often inflated.
Body and legs elongated. Beak of moderate dimensions._ {138}

_Sub-race I._--The improved English Pouter, when its crop is fully
inflated, presents a truly astonishing appearance. The habit of
slightly inflating the crop is common to all domestic pigeons, but is
carried to an extreme in the Pouter. The crop does not differ, except
in size, from that of other pigeons; but is less plainly separated by
an oblique construction from the oesophagus. The diameter of the upper
part of the oesophagus is immense, even close up to the head. The beak
in one bird which I possessed was almost completely buried when the
oesophagus was fully expanded. The males, especially when excited, pout
more than the females, and they glory in exercising this power. If a
bird will not, to use t