except breeding.
SECTION II
DESCRIPTION
6. General Appearance
Pigeons must look healthy, well-balanced, alert, intelligent, and showing abundance of rich feathers and sheen. Figure 1 shows the main parts of the homing pigeon (the right wing is extended for ease of description).
7. Weight
A cock weighs from 14 to 17 ounces; a hen, from 13 to 16 ounces.
8. Plumage
Rich, abundant, and soft plumage should cover the entire body. The color itself is of no importance, but rich shades, with the checkered pattern (if present) standing out brightly and distinctly, usually indicate good health and satisfactory condition. For classification of pigeons according to color see paragraph 26.
9. Head
The head should be of a medium size, round or oval shaped, of broad structure and strongly set. It should not be tight or drawn at any one place.
a. Bill. The bill should be of medium length with small to medium wattles and set well into the head. No openings should be noticeable when the bill is closed.
b. Eye. See section VI.
c. Ear. The ear seems to play an important part in the bird’s sense of direction. It includes three parts: external ear, middle ear, and inner ear. At the top of the inner ear there are three semicircular canals which appear to be the nerve conductors of orientation. Although no one knows just what helps homing pigeons find their loft, it is possible that the great sensitiveness of their ears enables them to receive magnetic and atmospheric impression, and thereby to determine direction either at departure or during flight. This theory is based on the fact that atmospheric disturbances often cause the bird temporarily to lose its way.
10. Neck
The neck is of medium length, with no sign of dewlap at the throat. It tapers to a wide, well-sprung chest.
11. Body
a. Breast. The breast (or chest) is broad and full in front; depth of breastbone should not exceed the width.
b. Shoulders. The shoulders are heavy and strongly reinforced with muscles.
c. Back. The back is well-feathered, strong, flat and broad at the shoulders, narrowing toward the rump.
Figure 1. Parts of homing pigeon.
d. Keel. The keel is strong, arched in front, and of medium length and depth. Width of keel denotes strength.
e. Abdomen. The abdomen is reduced to the smallest proportions.
f. Wings. The wings must be medium-sized, strong, well-proportioned, and rounded at the butt, with plenty of muscle. Primary flights should be of a good width, with plenty of overlapping space and a pronounced curvature towards the body. See i below. Secondary feathers should also be long and wide to provide a good covering for the entire back. Covert feathers should be sturdy and abundant, because they supply additional wing strength, as well as protect pigeons against adverse weather.
g. Pelvic bones. The pelvic bones (or vent bones) are very firm, close together over the vent, and extend toward the keel on each side of the vent. These bones form a body girdle by which the legs are joined to the body.
h. Rump. The rump is wide and continues the line of the back. It is well covered on all sides with fine, soft feathers.
i. Tail feathers. The tail feathers, 12 in number, are short, wide, overlapping, and do not extend farther than ¾ inch beyond the wing tips.
j. Legs. The legs are of medium length and well muscled. Thighs are chubby. Lower leg is red and stout, and toes are short with firm nails.
12. Respiratory Channels (fig. 2)
Figure 2. Respiratory channels of homing pigeon. (Air sacs are named in accordance with McLeod and Wagers. Other names are given in parenthesis.)
Respiratory channels are highly developed, enabling the pigeon to fly continuously from 12 to 15 hours. Air circulates through the bronchial tubes and lungs and also through nine air sacs, from which other small, irregular cavities extend under the skin between the muscles, and even into the inside of the bones. These small air sacs contain a reserve of warm air which feeds the lungs during flight when the muscular apparatus consumes a large amount of oxygen. They inflate and collapse alternately, acting as a lift and force pump which renews air in the lungs.
13. Digestive Organs
Digestive organs of the pigeon are shown in figure 3 (for functions see par. 50b).
Figure 3. Digestive organs of homing pigeon.
14. Bloom or Milt
This white, chalky powder is one of the means provided by nature to protect feathers against moisture during flight. When the pigeon bathes, the bloom is deposited in the form of a white scum on the top of the water. If a bird is caught and held closely, the bloom rubs off, leaving a white substance on the clothes. Absence of bloom is a symptom of poor health.