_i._ TAIL FEATHERS. The tail feathers, 12 in number, are short, wide, overlapping, and do not extend farther than 3/4 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) [Illustration: _Figure 2. Respiratory channels of homing pigeon. (Air sacs are named in accordance with McLeod and Wagers. Other names are given in parenthesis.)_ TL70172] 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. 50_b_). [Illustration: _Figure 3. Digestive organs of homing pigeon._ TL70173] 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. [Illustration: _Figure 4. A flight._ TL70174] 15. Molt Molting is nature’s way of shedding feathers and furnishing new ones for the entire body. Thus, feathers lost or injured the preceding year are replenished, and a perfect coat is insured for the coming year. An imperfect molt indicates an unhealthy condition which will reduce the pigeon’s efficiency and result in the breeding of inferior offspring. _a._ TIME OF MOLT. Every pigeon should molt once a year. Mated pigeons start molting approximately 1 week after the second set of eggs has been laid in the new season. Unmated old pigeons ordinarily begin molting in May or June. The time young birds molt depends primarily on the date of hatch. Those hatched during the early part of July begin with head and neck feathers very soon after leaving the nest, and later during the year partially molt all feathers. The process is completed the following summer. Various influences hasten or retard molting. For example, exceptionally warm weather may hasten it. Poor health retards and may prevent a complete molt. Early breeding ordinarily hastens the process, while late breeding tends to delay it. [Illustration: _Figure 5. Tail feathers of homing pigeon._ TL70175] _b._ ORDER OF MOLT. Feathers are shed in the following order (see par. 16 and fig. 1):