The English Pouter is a
breed of
fancy pigeon
Fancy pigeon refers to any breed of domestic pigeon, which is a domesticated form of the wild rock dove (''Columba livia''). They are bred by pigeon fanciers for various traits relating to size, shape, color, and behavior, and often exhibited at pi ...
developed over many years of
selective breeding. English
Pouters, along with other varieties of
domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the
rock pigeon. A breed with an enlarged
crop
A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. In other words, a crop is a plant or plant product that is grown for a specific purpose such as food, Fiber, fibre, or fuel.
When plants of the same spe ...
, their distinctiveness was described by
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...
in ''
The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication
''The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication'' is a book by Charles Darwin that was first published in January 1868.
A large proportion of the book contains detailed information on the domestication of animals and plants but it al ...
'' (1868).
History
William Bernhardt Tegetmeier proposed that the English Pouter originated from cross breeding the old pigeon breeds the
Dutch Cropper,
Uploper and the
Parisian Pouter. Each of these breeds is described in works dating from the 17th century.
However, in an earlier account, John Moore suggested that the breed was the result of cross breeding between a type of cropper and horseman (both 18th century pigeon types).
Historically, the English Pouter was also called the Pouting Horseman, due to the links with the Horseman breed.
The modern breeds of croppers, such as the
Norwich Cropper, originate from the English Pouter.
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...
described the English Pouter in his 1868 work ''
The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication
''The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication'' is a book by Charles Darwin that was first published in January 1868.
A large proportion of the book contains detailed information on the domestication of animals and plants but it al ...
'', saying that the breed was "perhaps the most distinct of all domesticated pigeons".
Description
As with all breeds of
domesticated pigeons, the English Pouter is descended from the
rock pigeon (''Columba livia''), and has been developed over years through
selective breeding of individuals with specific characteristics.
It is a breed of
fancy pigeon
Fancy pigeon refers to any breed of domestic pigeon, which is a domesticated form of the wild rock dove (''Columba livia''). They are bred by pigeon fanciers for various traits relating to size, shape, color, and behavior, and often exhibited at pi ...
,
that being a type of pigeon kept by
pigeon fanciers as part of the fancy pigeon group as opposed to
Flying/Sporting Pigeons or
Utility pigeons.
The Pouter is long limbed with an enlarged
crop
A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. In other words, a crop is a plant or plant product that is grown for a specific purpose such as food, Fiber, fibre, or fuel.
When plants of the same spe ...
, and overall a large body.
[
]
See also
* List of pigeon breeds
References
External links
* {{cci